SA police end search for teen's remains

An extensive search of Coober Pedy mineshafts has failed to find the body of 16-year-old Karen Williams, who has been missing since 1990.

The search for the remains of a South Australian teenager who went missing 24 years ago has been called off.

Police have been unable to find the body of 16-year-old Karen Williams, who was last seen in Coober Pedy in the early hours of August 4, 1990.

Police, State Emergency Service personnel, council staff and volunteers began searching a mine shaft on Tuesday but found nothing of significance.

More shafts have been searched since without success.

Police say this search is over but the investigation to find her remains continues.

"We are confident that Karen's remains are within the proximity of the search area and are committed to pursuing the investigation to recover her body," Superintendent Des Bray said.

In 2013, detectives used a ground-penetrating radar to examine an area of land on the outskirts of the town after receiving new information.

They returned to dig in several locations but found nothing relevant.

A $200,000 reward remains on offer to anyone who can lead police to the discovery of her remains.

Last November, Nikola Novakovich, 42, was charged with her murder. He is due to stand trial in February.


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