Strike Force Amias investigators, assisted by specialist forensic officers, yesterday commenced another coordinated search of the Lester State Forest, about 20km south-west of Coolamon.

The skeletal remains were located about 1pm and while they are yet to be formally identified, Riverina Police District Commander, Superintendent Bob Noble, said they are believed to be those of Ms Boyd.

"The loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with, but we hope the Boyd family will soon be able to say goodbye to Allecha," Superintendent Noble said.

In 2017, detectives from the Riverina Police District established Strike Force Amias to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ms Boyd's suspicious disappearance and suspected murder.

Ms Boyd, then aged 27, was last seen in the township of Coolamon on the afternoon of August 10, 2017.

Following inquiries, two men - aged 19 and 37 - were charged in 2017 and a 35-year-old woman was charged in 2018 in relation to her murder.

In February 2020, Samuel John Shephard was sentenced to 27 years' jail for Ms Boyd's murder and drug offences.

A year earlier, Anthony Shane Hagan was sentenced to five years' jail after admitting to burying Ms Boyd's body in the Lester State Forest.

The third person, Shephard's then-partner Tracy Lee King, was jailed after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact.

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Seven previous searches of the Lester State Forest had been unsuccessful, despite previous attempts by Shephard to assist in finding Ms Boyd's body.

A search was conducted on November 30, and despite not finding the body Superintendent Noble said he believed they were "getting closer."

At Shephard's sentencing earlier this year, the Boyd family spoke of their ongoing pain at not being able to lay Ms Boyd to rest.

The remains will be subject to forensic examination, followed by further analysis, including DNA testing.

A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.

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