Human remains found in woodland identified as man missing since 2002

Police have identified human remains found in a secluded woodland in Swansea as that of a missing man last seen more than 20 years ago. South Wales Police made the discovery in an area behind Waverley Drive, Mumbles, on Thursday, April 6, WalesOnline reports.

The force has now confirmed the remains have been identified as Russell Scozzi from West Cross, Swansea, who was last seen in May 2002. In a tribute, Mr Scozzi's sister said her family can now be "given the opportunity to grieve him properly.”

She said: “My heart goes out to Russell's children who have grown up without their father and never really knowing what happened to him. Hopefully now we, as a family, can lay him to rest and with the work of South Wales Police discover what happened to him. I dearly loved Russell.

READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community

"He was my big brother who I always looked up to when I was growing up, and to lose him in this way has been devastating. Finally, we can be given the opportunity to grieve him properly.”

The last confirmed sighting of the computer expert in 2002 was at a Swansea bus station. He was 43 years old and a year earlier had, without reason, given up a high-salary IT job with a multi-national company. Mr Scozzi was known to have travelled extensively to the likes of Bali and Australia and spoke both German and French fluently. But it was considered unusual for him not to keep in regular touch with family.

What concerned them most was that he made no attempts to contact his children, something that was completely out of character. You can read more about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance here.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Davies said: "Our investigation into the