Inspector Steve Burk gave a press conference about a body that was found on a rural property between Oatlands and Orford. Picture: Mathew Farrell

Inspector Steve Burk said as the result of information obtained last Friday, a search was conducted on a remote property inland from Orford involving up to 50 police officers.

“As a result of that particular search, an are of interest was identified and was examined by forensic officers yesterday, which resulted in a body being located,” Insp Burk said.

“Formal identification of that body will not be able to be established until tomorrow (Monday) morning, and that will be in consultation with the pathologist and the coroner

“Out thoughts are with the loved ones at this difficult time.”

Insp Burk said he could not elaborate on how the body was concealed, and stressed that the owner of the property was not in any way involved in the incident, and was remained deeply upset about what had occurred on his land.

“The property owner has absolutely no involvement in this, nor was he aware that the body was on his property,” he said.

“He’s been fully cooperative with police.”

Last week police issued a missing persons alert for Mr Davies, but the matter quickly escalated to a presumed murder investigation.

On Friday, Bradley Scott Purkiss, 40, appeared in the Magistrates Court in Hobart to plead not guilty to one count of murder.

He did not apply for bail and he was remanded to appear in the Supreme Court on July 24.

Margaret Anne Otto, 44, also appeared in court to plead not guilty to being an accessory after the fact of murder, failing to report a killing, and perverting the course of justice.

Ms Otto had her application for bail denied by Chief Magistrate Geason.

Yesterday, Insp Burk said police were not intending to lay charges against any other parties, but that the investigation would continue to run for days, if not weeks.

Originally published as Body could be missing man