Nearly 18 months after the body of a keen fisherman was pulled from a creek, his angry family is still hunting for answers over what led to the larrikin grandfather's suspicious death.
Malcolm Bridge was found dead in Muscle Creek, in the NSW Hunter town of Muswellbrook, on March 30, 2023.
Despite being found in the water, the 58-year-old did not appear to have drowned and he had injuries to his face and hands, police said.
During a public appeal for information on Thursday, Detective Inspector Rod Blackman said Mr Bridge might have been involved in a local feud before his death.
"We do have some information that he may have been involved in a dispute with some local people at Muswellbrook," he said.
"So we're absolutely keen to hear from anybody that has any knowledge around those relationships that he may have had in that local area."
Mr Bridge was thought to have had plans to sleep rough under a bridge in the area about the time of the incident, Det Insp Blackman said.
He might have died any time in the four days up to and including when his body was found, police said.
The 58-year-old's sister, Kathleen Howard, described her brother as a larrikin who would give people the shirt off his back.
"He loved his fishing, loved having a joke around," she said.
"He was just an amazing man."
There were people in the community who could help bring the family some closure almost 18 months after the death, Ms Howard said.
"Not only for Malcolm, but for his kids, his grandchildren and this family. There are people out there that know what happened to Malcolm in his last moments."
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