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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Nick Bielby

Families of Hunter missing persons back new DNA program

Gordana Kotevski.

Loved ones of some of the Hunter's missing persons say they would take part in a new family DNA project that police are conducting north of Newcastle if it is brought to this region.

And the father of one missing young man is calling for the initiative to be rolled-out across the nation.

NSW Police launched the pilot program on the state's Mid North Coast this week, calling for family members of long-term missing persons - 90 days or longer - to contribute DNA samples to help investigators identify remains.

The Hunter has many missing persons cases outstanding, each with a family, friends and other loved ones waiting for answers - some for decades.

Missing Persons Registry commander Detective Inspector Glen Browne told Channel Nine on Monday morning police hoped to roll-out the DNA project to other regional centres.

A NSW Police spokesperson told the Newcastle Herald on Monday no more locations had yet been locked in, but the aim was to open pop-up DNA collection points across the state.

Gordana Kotevski, a 16-year-old girl who was bundled into a vehicle on a Charlestown street while walking to a relative's house after late-night shopping in November, 1994, is one of the Hunter's long-term missing persons.

Gordana's aunt, Julie Talevski, said the family would be pleased if the DNA facilities were brought to this region.

"The Hunter certainly has more than its fair share of missing persons," she told the Newcastle Herald.

"Our family has no hesitation when it comes to participation in the program. A matched DNA [sample] could mean a potential answer for families of long-term missing persons."

Jayden Penno-Tompsett.

Jayden Penno-Tompsett, a 22-year-old from Birmingham Gardens who disappeared in the Charters Towers area - about 130km from Townsville - while travelling north to ring-in the new year with mates, has been missing since December 31, 2017.

His father Brendan Tompsett said the DNA program was "a really good thing".

"It's a great start," he said.

"Roll it out Australia-wide."

Nicole Dickie said her family would also take part in the DNA program, as the days continue to mount since her 19-year-old son Dylan went missing in bushland about 20km south-west of Cessnock in June, 2016.

Dylan Dickie.

"It would save time later down the track and give us peace of mind that if Dylan's bones were found, he would be identified quickly," she said.

The DNA samples are taken using a buccal swab - that is, from the inside of the cheek. Investigators are also interviewing willing family members in an effort to collect more information about cases as part of the program.

There are 769 long-term missing persons and 330 unidentified bodies or human remains in NSW.

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