Police are probing whether the death of a St Marys man was accidental or deliberate after his body was found on a Glenorie property last week.
Johnny “Fingers” Birch’s body was found on a property on Gleness Place in Glenorie after his girlfriend raised the alarm when he did not return home by 9pm last Thursday evening.
Birch is believed to have travelled to the Glenorie property from St Marys in the middle of last week to visit people he knew.
Birch’s girlfriend had filed a missing persons report with police and told them where Birch was going the last time she saw him.
Police arrived at the property the next day and found human remains in a shallow grave covered by dirt and other objects.
Police are questioning if Birch was killed after being hit by a car, after skid marks and a damaged car were found on the property.
Superintendent Naomi Moore held a press conference on Friday, the day the remains were found, and said police believed Birch may have been missing “for a couple of days” before his girlfriend notified police.
A 24-year-old man, a 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman, the latter two are believed to be in a relationship, were arrested by police on Friday, but no charges have been laid.
“We believe they were known [to Birch] and do have some further information that they can offer to our investigation,” Moore said.
The suspects were questioned by police for roughly 12 hours on Friday but were all released as investigations continue.
Birch had a criminal history and is believed to have served prison time over drug offences previously.
He had a two-year-old daughter, with friends setting up a GoFundMe page to support her and his partner move forward with their lives.
“I need you all to dig deep and donate whatever the value it all adds up,” the GoFundMe said.
“I’m doing this for his two-year-old daughter, partner Jess and his family. Every cent will be used for his send off.
“This will be a time where his daughter will one day get to watch the life of her daddy!”
Police have formed Strike Force Halderen to investigate the 39-year-old’s death with local detectives now joined by specialists from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad to answer the questions surrounding Birch’s death.
Some answers will be answered this week as results of a post-mortem examination come in.
Emily Chate
Emily Chate joined The Western Weekender in 2024, and covers local news - primarily courts and politics. A graduate of the University of Wollongong, Emily has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and worked as a freelance journalist.