Skeletal remains found on a South Australian beach more than for decades ago have been formally declared those of a man who disappeared in 1976.
A DNA match obtained last year linked the remains to Mario Della Torre who went missing from Whyalla, where he had worked for BHP.
About six months after he was last seen a skull and other bones were found washed up on a beach at nearby False Bay.
After an inquest in 1979, then coroner Barry Ahern said he could not be satisfied that the remains were those of Mr Della Torre.
Police began a review of the 54-year-old's disappearance in early 2021 and located the missing man's brother.
A DNA profile was obtained with the results providing "extremely strong scientific support for the proposition that the remains are from Mario Della Torre", the reopened inquest was told recently.
In his findings on Tuesday, Deputy State Coroner Anthony Schapel agreed that the remains were those of the missing man.
However, Mr Schapel said they did not provide any evidence as to the cause of Mr Della Torre's death.
"I note that it has been recorded that at around the time Mr Della Torre was last seen in October 1976 he had complained of depression and had asserted that the medication that he had been prescribed had not worked for him," the coroner said.
"That, in the eyes of some, might give rise to the notion that Mr Della Torre possibly took his own life.
"However, in my opinion, the evidence is not capable of supporting such a conclusion to the necessary standard of proof.
"I, therefore, make no finding as to the circumstances of Mr Della Torre's disappearance and death."
