Hopes police dig will finally resolve 52-year mystery of the missing Beaumont children

THE 52-YEAR wait for answers to the mystery of the missing Beaumont children could be just hours from ending, as police hone in on a potential gravesite.

THE 52-YEAR wait for answers to the mystery of the missing Beaumont children could be just hours from ending, as police hone in on a potential gravesite.

Excavators have spent more than four hours today digging a large patch of land on the northern flank of the Castalloy factory at North Plympton, monitored by archaeologists and a team of police and Major Crime detectives.

Detective Superintendent Greg Hutchins told a large media conference that the land had been dug to a depth of one metre, describing the operation as a “slow, methodical search”.

“We have now hit sandy soil, which is very similar to the soil located at the previous dig,” he said.

In 2013, police made what turned out to be a fruitless dig at a different area of the sprawling foundry.

Dig at Castalloy factory for the Beaumont Children. Pictured is SA Major Crime Superintendent Des Bray watching the dig. Detective Picture: Dylan Coker

Major Crime detectives are acting on information that Castalloy founder and millionaire businessman Harry Phipps, had buried Jane, Arnna and Grant Beaumont at the site after abducting and murdering them on Australia Day, 1966.

Insp Hutchins said the removal of the top-fill meant the operation would now slow down.

“We what we know, using specialist GP equipment and the expertise of Dr (Ian) Moffat from Flinders University, the anomaly from his readings commence about another 80 centimetres from where we are now,” he said.

Dig at Castalloy factory for the Beaumont Children. Pictured is SA Major Crime Superintendent Des Bray watching the dig. Detective Picture: Dylan Coker

“Once we hit that point it is about another metre from where it is most prevalent, so we are still some distance away from getting to the anomaly.”

Dr Moffat and his team used state-of-the-art technology to identify an anomaly in the soil which appears to give credence to statements by two brothers that they were paid by Phipps to dig a two-metre deep hole days after the disappearance.

“As we get closer to the anomaly we will need to be guided by the experts, the forensic anthropologist is on site, so we will begin slowing down as we approach that 80 centimetre mark,” Insp Hutchins said.

“I think we will get to that level this afternoon, we’re now in that sandy soil which is very easy to dig, we’ve got the experts on site closely monitoring what’s occurring.”

Insp Hutchins was cautious about the prospects of solving the mystery today.

“I can’t have a guess what they might find, if they do find anything it will slow things down significantly,” he said.

“It’s very easy for them to identify any strange object, thing, rubbish or clothing.”

Insp Hutchins said he and his Major Crime colleagues were on tenterhooks as the search progressed.

“It’s like everybody else, everybody has got their fingers crossed and we hope for the best for the sake of the family,” he said.

Dig at Castalloy factory for the Beaumont Children. Pictured is Picture: Dylan Coker

Insp Hutchins said a SAPOL victim support officer would be with Jim Beaumont this afternoon as the 92-year old waited at his home for answers.

“It’s very important that he hears what is occurring before anybody else and we will liaise directly with that victim support officer once we give her an indication to go and sit with Mr Beaumont,” he said.

“We will continue until we need to. A lot depends on what we find as we go down … but potentially we could still be here for a number of hours.”