Detectives are seeking help from the public as they prepare a report for the coroner into the death of a man on the Northern Beaches in June.
Emergency services were called to a home in Manly at about 6.20am on 11 June, after a man was reported to be unresponsive.
The man was identified as 54-year-old Brett Whittaker.
While Brett’s death is not currently being treated as suspicious, police are seeking to clarify the circumstances leading up to him being discovered.
Northern Beaches Police Area Command Commander, Detective Superintendent John Duncan, said police were seeking answers for Brett’s family.
“The responsibility of preparing a report for the information of the NSW Coroner lies with my detectives, but we also want to find out what was happening in the lead-up to the discovery of Brett’s body,” Det Supt Duncan said.
“We have information that a number of other people were with Brett in the unit the previous day (10 June 2026), and we’ve been able to confirm he was alive at 2.30am, but we want to know where he was and who he was with in the intervening hours until his body was found at 6.30am.
“We know there were calls from the location to other people, and it’s those people we hope can provide some clarity to how Brett came to be alone – and so unwell – at that time of the morning,” Det Supt Duncan said.
Brett’s twin sister, Janine Colless, is pleading with the public to help police in their inquiries.
“Brett was a Narrabeen boy, loved by many, and he was proud of his painting business,” Janine said.
‘I hope someone out there will come forward and help police understand what happened.’
“I miss my brother.”
Anyone with information about Brett’s death or movements before he was found is urged to get in touch with Manly Police or Crime Stoppers.