A jawbone washed up on a northern New South Wales beach in 2011 has been genetically linked to a man who went missing at sea more than 40 years ago.
The bone was found on Kingscliff Beach nearly a decade ago, but the case remained unsolved until a "familial DNA" link was found by NSW Police.
New technology allowed investigators to match the jawbone DNA with that of a 34-year-old man imprisoned in Goulburn Jail last August.
The inmate was the nephew of mariner Bill Moran, who was 24 when his motor cruiser sank in rough seas off Evans Head on September 24, 1979.
His wife, 21-year-old Philippa, also died.
Mr Moran's jawbone was discovered on the beach on the same date as the tragedy occurred, 32 years later.
Philippa's sister Maria Moran said the discovery had provided closure to the family.
"I was so excited just to know … a little bit more what happened," she said.
"The gravestone was always 'Billy was lost at sea' so now they can be together. It's a lovely feeling."
Maria and Philippa Moran coincidentally both married men with the same surname.
This month, a pilot program is being launched by police on the NSW Mid North Coast, asking families of missing persons to volunteer their DNA to be matched with unidentified bodies and human remains.
