Coroner closes investigation into missing man after farmers find skull

The death of Jayden Penno-Tompsett, who disappeared on New Year's Eve 2017, will remain officially unexplained after a coroner closed the investigation. Skeletal remains found in October 2025 on a cattle station near Charters Towers, Queensland, were insufficient to overturn the original 2021 inquest's findings.

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The question that arises is whether the discovery of Jayden's remains provides a basis to revisit Coroner Wilson's finding as to the cause of his death

Penno-Tompsett, 22, was last seen walking away from his companion and their car in remote bushland while under the influence of a significant quantity of methamphetamine. The first inquest concluded he likely died from exposure in the harsh, 40-degree Celsius conditions. The discovery of his partial remains, about 3 kilometers from where he was last seen, prompted a reopening of the inquest.

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no injuries that would positively indicate a traumatic cause of death

However, Northern Coroner Wayne Pennell stated in his August 21 decision that forensic testing of the bones revealed no injuries indicative of a traumatic death. While acknowledging that a substantial portion of the skeleton was missing, he found the findings consistent with the original conclusion of death by exposure. Penno-Tompsett's mother had expressed concerns to the court, believing her son met foul play due to unpaid drug debts. The coroner reviewed her correspondence but found no fresh evidence to support her theory or contradict the initial findings.

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did not identify any fresh, compelling, or previously unavailable evidence capable of undermining or materially contradicting Coroner Wilson's findings