Police are treating the death of a teenage girl whose skeleton was discovered six years later as a possible murder.
Homicide detectives are investigating the fate of Taree teenager Cherylee Masters, who disappeared in 2000 and whose skeletal remains were found near a forest track on the mid north coast almost two years ago.
Australian Defence Force soldiers found the remains near a track in a forest on the mid north coast almost two years ago, but they were so badly deteriorated that NSW Police requested help from DNA experts in New Orleans.
The Deputy State Coroner at Taree last week officially ruled the remains belonged to 18-year-old Ms Masters, who was reported missing on October 10, 2000 after telling friends in Taree that she intended travelling south to Maitland.
She used to hitchhike around NSW with truck drivers, police said.
Indications of violence at the crime scene prompted police to establish Strike Force Tooke, which is made up by homicide detectives and local police. Detectives are calling for anyone who might have seen Ms Masters to come forward.
They can be contacted via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.