Wait for NSW body identification continues
The family of a missing woman Kathleen Lidden may have to wait until after Christmas for post-mortem results on skeletal remains found in NSW Southern Highlands.
The remains were located by a member of the public in bushland north of Lake Alexandra at Mittagong on Saturday.
A post-mortem is underway to determine the cause of death and formally identify the body, but it could take weeks depending on the condition of the remains, NSW Police told AAP on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, police said they expect the remains to belong to Ms Lidden, an art teacher and 52-year-old mother who disappeared after leaving her Bowral home on June 13.
Later that day she was captured on CCTV outside a shop in nearby Mittagong.
Friends and family of Ms Lidden responded to the discovery of the remains with an outpouring of grief.
"Heartbroken for Kathy's loved ones," one person wrote on Facebook.
"We are honoured to have known Kathy and cherish the love of art, baking and foraging she inspired in our son. My heart aches. RIP beautiful soul xox".
Extensive searches of the area in June and September failed to locate Ms Lidden.
NSW Police would not confirm if the disappearance was being treated as a homicide when asked on Wednesday.
