Part of a skull found near a creek in north Queensland is that of schoolgirl Marilyn Wallman, who vanished more than 40 years ago, police have confirmed.
Marilyn was 14 when she disappeared while riding to school from the Mackay suburb of Eimeo in March 1972.
Her bike was found beside a road and a cane field by her two brothers who had left home about 10 minutes later.
Despite extensive searches at the time, no trace of Marilyn was ever found.
We know where she is now and at some stage we'll be able to lay her to rest.
Police have long believed she was kidnapped and murdered.
The partial skull was found two-and-a-half years later near McGregor Creek, about 40 kilometres from where Marilyn disappeared.
Despite years of forensic testing on the skull, the identity could not be confirmed.
Today Mackay Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon said advancements in DNA testing helped confirm the skull belonged to Marilyn.
It was sent for more DNA testing last year, after the case was sent to the Coroner.
The initial examination of the partial skull took place in 1974, and further examinations were done in 1987 in Queensland and 1999 in Victoria.
In 2001 the partial skull remains were sent to the FBI laboratory in Quantico where a mitochondrial DNA test was conducted and found a link between Marilyn and her mother.
The fragment was then tested in New Zealand and again in Queensland.
Mr Condon said more information from the public was needed to find her killer.
"There are people out there alive today that will know something about the disappearance of Marilyn Wallman and her murder and we ask them to ring Crime Stoppers," he said.
Grieving family want answers
Marilyn's brother Rex said it was a massive relief to finally have his sister back.
"That's one of the reasons we've been searching for so long," he said.
"The other is to find out what happened. We'll be searching and trying to find the answers until we do.
"We know where she is now and at some stage we'll be able to lay her to rest."
Mr Wallman was hopeful that someone would come forward with information.
"Whether it be the particular person that has some sort of conscience, or somebody else that knows about it that now wants to come forward and clear their conscience," he said.
"That's what we need, that last little piece of evidence."