Tasmanian Volunteers: Search for Missing Man Yields Suspected Remains
A volunteer team located suspected human remains in George Town on Friday, continuing their successful track record in locating missing persons in the state.
By Harper Laurent ·
Find Our Lost Loved Ones located suspected human remains in George Town, Tasmania, on Friday. The group is searching for Michael Vrankovic, a 58-year-old man who has been missing since January 13. Police have confirmed the discovery and notified his family.
The organization was created following the January 2025 discovery of the remains of Belgian tourist Celine Cremer. Cremer had vanished in June 2023 near Philosopher Falls. A coroner later ruled her death accidental after she became lost in the wilderness. The group has also previously found Peter Willoughby, a 76-year-old man who went missing in northern Tasmania in May.
Tasmania Police stated in a release that the remains found in George Town are believed to belong to an adult human. The location is in recently burned bushland near residential areas. Police had previously searched this specific zone. Inspector Melanie Groves noted that formal identification has not yet begun. She added that the process will take time, potentially spanning several weeks.
Group co-founder Alex Smith described the search method as a brute force approach. The team deployed 60 people in a single line to comb through a relatively contained area. Smith told reporters the effort was slow and methodical. This strategy mirrors the techniques used in the successful searches for Cremer and Willoughby.
The group works closely with law enforcement on active cases. Their recent success in George Town marks another instance where volunteer-led efforts have complemented official police operations in Tasmania's rugged terrain.
