Police have released new details about the suspected murder of Ian Lees, as they appeal to the public for information about the case.
Detectives hope to speak to an anonymous person who supplied information online to Crime Stoppers on July 28, as well as to a person seen searching a reserve with a torch at the northern end of Fairleigh Avenue in Modbury North, in Adelaide's north-east, in the early hours of March 2.
Ian Lees, 53, was last seen near his Modbury North home in March.
His body was later identified from remains that were found four months later in the Hale Conservation Park in Williamstown, about 50km north-east of Adelaide.
Mr Lees left his home about 6pm on February 28 and was last seen in Fairleigh Avenue about 2:40am on March 1.
Police want to speak to two people seen on CCTV walking south out of Fairleigh Reserve — at the end of Fairleigh Avenue — about 1am the same day.
They also want to speak to another person seen on CCTV about 5:40am on March 2 searching in darkness with a torch in the area near where Mr Lees's backpack, wallet, keys and thongs were located in bushes.
Police released a photo of the belongings as well as a picture of Mr Lees's blue heeler Jasper, who he was regularly seen walking.
On July 28, two days after Mr Lees's remains were found — but a month before they were publicly identified as his — a person contacted Crime Stoppers via its website with "quite specific detail" about where his body could be located, Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said.
"That person's information is critical to the investigation of Ian's murder and we ask for that person to come forward and contact police today," he said.
"We'll have detectives from Major Crime available to speak to that person between 5pm and 9pm today."
Police are also keen to speak to any of Mr Lees's "large group of friends" who had "knowledge of what was happening in his life prior to his disappearance or whether he was in conflict with anybody".
Mr Lees's funeral was held last Friday and his niece, Grace, said hundreds of people were there to mourn his death.
She described her uncle as an avid Port Adelaide Football Club supporter who loved his dog Jasper and who had a wide circle of friends.
"Uncle Ian meant so much to us," she said.
"He always made everyone laugh.
"As kids, we were just in awe of him — just a fun-loving nature, he was a great uncle.
"As a family unit, we are really missing Ian Lees and we would really appreciate if anyone [who] has any information at all could come forward to the police and help us solve what has happened to our uncle."
Anyone with information can contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
