Police yesterday confirmed the body of a man found in a landfill site in Falkirk was that of missing musician John McAnish.
Mr McAnish, 45, was last seen on April 2, walking near the Old Bridge in Stirling.
After six weeks of searches Central Scotland Police turned their attention to the Avondale landfill site, where 1300 tonnes of waste is dumped every day.
On June 12, police searchers, scouring a 10,000 tonne mountain of rotting household waste and commercial refuse, found a man's body.
Police yesterday said the body has been formally identified as that of Mr McAnish. A post-mortem examination has been carried out and a report has been forwarded to the procurator-fiscal.
Mr McAnish's family described the "emotional rollercoaster" of his disappearance and said his loss had been "hard to bear".
In a statement, they said: "We are saddened and at the same time relieved to have John back.
"This will allow us as a family to finally to give him the respect and dignity in death which has been so sadly lacking.
"It is our sincere hope that justice will now run its course.
"John was missing for over 10 weeks and as time has passed, not knowing if he was alive, or dead, or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, has been a traumatic, emotional rollercoaster.
"It saddens us deeply to think John could have been treated with such a lack of respect."
Mr McAnish's two grown-up daughters, Zoe and Hayley, and his ex-partner, Nadine, were informed by police in June that he was believed dead.
Police spoke to more than 150 witnesses and carried out a series of searches. They became convinced his body was dumped at the landfill site after a wheelie bin was found containing his blood and body fluids.
Detective Inspector Gordon Crossan, who led the inquiry, said: "It has been a torrid three months of uncertainty for his family and I thank them for their strength, patience and support throughout this difficult period."
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