Confirmation that human remains found in Sunshine Coast bushland belonged to his son was like "waiting for a sledgehammer to hit you", says Bruce Morcombe says.
Three bones found in boggy bushland at Beerwah have been confirmed as belonging to Daniel Morcombe, who was 13 when he went missing in 2003.
Mr Morcombe told reporters that the news from Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson on Sunday was inevitably a blow.
"He was very gracious to give us a number of minutes and a number of phone calls to perhaps compose ourselves," he said.
Mr Morcombe said he was hesitant to describe the family's feeling as "closure", saying it was more like relief.
"We wrestle with finding the appropriate word and closure is one that me and Denise and the family have never been enormously comfortable with," he said.
Mrs Morcombe earlier thanked the family's many supporters.
"I feel that Daniel is your son as well," she said. "It's everyone's strength that has got us through the last seven-and-a-half years and will help us through the rest of it."
Mrs Morcombe said although she had so long to contemplate a funeral for her son, she had yet to make any firm plans.
She said it was difficult to pass on the news to her other sons, Daniel's twin brother Bradley, 21, and Dean, 23. "Just watching the boys' faces was heartbreaking really," Mrs Morcombe said.
"They just stood there and just stared." Mr Morcombe said it was reality setting in.
"No longer was their boy missing, the reality was their boy was now murdered," he said.
"That is a massive step for anyone to comprehend."
Mr Morcombe said the family found more comfort in visiting the public memorial for Daniel, rather than the site where his remains have been found.
"It's a very eerie place, it's certainly not a place anyone would want to go and visit out of their natural accord," he said. Mrs Morcombe added: "It's more like hell."
Mr Atkinson said police were totally committed to continuing the difficult search for Daniel's remains, which has been suspended for a week due to bad weather.
Perth man Brett Peter Cowan, 41, has been charged with Daniel's murder and will appear in court again next month.
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