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Possible human remains have been found during a lengthy search of a rural property following the suspicious disappearance of a Darling Downs man earlier this month. Hampton man Paul Woods was reported missing to police on October 14, but was believed to have last been seen around October 5, travelling between Hampton and the Crows Nest area, north of Toowoomba. Police charged 45-year-old Shaun James Smoothy on the Gold Coast on October 20 with the 48-year-old's murder. Mr Smoothy, a house re-stumper, was also charged with one count of improperly interfering with a corpse, "namely the dismemberment of a dead human body" on or about October 5, according to court documents. Police will allege the remains, which are yet to be formally identified, were found during an extensive search of a Cressbrook Creek property, 140 kilometres west of Brisbane. Two crime scenes were initially set up earlier this month, the first at a property in Hampton, where police believe Mr Woods lived, and 17 kilometres north of Hampton at Cressbrook Creek. Cadaver dogs, the SES and the police dive squad were brought in as part of the extensive days-long search of the Cressbrook Creek property. Police on Wednesday revealed the discovery of the possible remains and told the ABC that officers, including police divers, remained at the property as investigations continued. Acting Detective Inspector Ryan Harmer of the Darling Downs Crime Group previously told a media conference the two men were known to each other, but said the relationship was still under investigation. "We believe that Paul went missing on the afternoon of the 5th of October and may have been riding an old Yamaha 450 dirt bike, which is unregistered," he said on October 21. Mr Smoothy has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on November 18. Police are appealing for any information about Mr Woods and his use of an unregistered blue and white Yamaha motorbike between October 5 and 6 in the Hampton, Crows Nest and Cressbrook Creek area.
