Husband charged with Patricia Riggs's murder after body uncovered at her house 15 years later

A Queensland homeowner has stumbled across the remains of a missing mother after undertaking excavation works at the woman’s former home.

It’s been almost 15 years since mother-of-four Patricia Riggs was reported missing by her husband, who police have now charged with her murder.

“I’m just pleased they found her at last,” one neighbour said.

Ms Riggs was last seen at the Margate home she shared with husband Edmund Ian Riggs on September 30, 2001.

On Sunday the new homeowner was doing excavation works in the yard when he came across the remains which have been identified as Ms Riggs.

Patricia Anne Riggs' husband has faced Queensland court charged with her murder, almost 15 years after reporting her missing. Source: 7 News.

Police engaged in extensive excavation work at the home before arresting Mr Riggs on the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday.

“It’s horrible to know she found her end there,” neighbour Kellie Tinker said.

Police had searched the property previously in the 15 years since Ms Riggs went missing, and are now investigating if the body was placed in the yard after the earlier search.

Riggs appeared in a Queensland court on Wednesday where he was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.

Sitting ashen-faced and wearing a Broncos shirt, Riggs was not required to enter a plea and will now remain in custody until his next court appearance on November 30.

Riggs appeared in Redcliffe Magistrates Court this morning where the case was adjourned until November. Source: 7 News.

Riggs' solicitor Michael Reddy told reporters he did not have time to consult his client "at length" before his appearance.

"(He's) a little bit stressed as you could imagine," he said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Fadian said the reaction of Ms Riggs' family to the news was mixed.

Ms Riggs, a mother of four, was last seen at her home in Margate, north of Brisbane, on September 30, 2001. Source: QPS Media.

On Sunday a resident now living at the home was doing excavation works when he made the discovery. Source: 7 News.

"They are in some way relieved ... but there is a court process they have to go through," Det Sen Sgt Fadian said.

Former next door neighbour Frances Wing says she always suspected the missing mother-of-four would be found in her own backyard.

Ms Wing, who has lived in Janet Street for more than 30 years, says Ms Riggs was a down-to-earth person who intended to be a swimming coach before she went missing in 2001.

With the arrest of Edmond Ian Riggs (pictured above) a man she met and married at 17. Source: 7 News.