Germany: Skeleton of man missing 29 years found in tree

The town of Bruckberg (marked), where a pensioner's skelton was found in a tree, 29 years after he disappeared. Image / Google Maps

The skeleton of a German man who disappeared 29 years ago has been found in a tree in the Bavaria region.

A teenage boy made the grisly discovery as he was walking through a forest in the town of Bruckberg, Bild.com reported.

He called police after spotting what looked like human bones on the forest floor.

An investigation by police officers has revealed the bones are the remains of a 69-year-old pensioner (identified only as Paul L. by Bild.com) who went missing in 1980.

The remainder of his skelton was found 11-metres above the ground, in a spruce tree.

The pensioner's grandson, Klaus Kiefl, told the website he remembered very clearly the day his grandfather disappeared.

"His farewell note was on the kitchen table," Kiefl said.

Despite extensive searches of the areas where Paul L. liked to walk at the time of his disappearance, his body remained undiscovered.

Bild.com reported it was believed the pensioner had tied himself to a tree branch before shooting himself.

- NZ HERALD STAFF