Police find more fabric as wild weather hinders Tyrrell search

Another piece of fabric has been pulled from mud and bagged as potential evidence by police searching Kendall bushland for William Tyrrell’s remains.

Another piece of fabric has been pulled from mud and bagged as potential evidence by police searching Kendall bushland for William Tyrrell’s remains.

The item was collected about noon on Friday and just minutes before heavy rain set in across the search area.

The fabric was much larger than other pieces collected previously. It was photographed and will be sent for forensic analysis in Newcastle where several other items are being tested.

The find was close to Search Area 1 where investigators have been painstakingly sifting soil for almost two weeks in search of clues to the missing toddler’s whereabouts.

Police officers inspect items at the search site today. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

On Friday members of the Rural Fire Service began clearing scrub on the opposite side of Batar Creek Rd ahead of police moving their search there.

The 1km stretch of road, which runs perpendicular to Benaroon Dr where William was last seen on September 12, 2014, will be easier to search as backfill soil is not required to be removed first.

Soil had been dumped on Search Area 1 on several occasions since William disappeared.

State Crime Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett on Friday told media the weather would see the search extended for several weeks - however a police source on the ground said it was unlikely to take that long with the most tedious parts of the operation now complete.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Dukes at the dig site. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

The dig continues Friday morning at the search area. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Three-year-old William disappeared more than seven years ago from his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall and has never been found.

A team of investigators from Strike Force Rosann, set up to find William, descended on Kendall two weeks ago to search for his remains or any clues as to what happened to him.

Scrub clearing started early Friday morning in Kendall. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

Little William has been missing for seven years.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said the initial search period of two to three weeks would likely be “doubled” due to the wet conditions.

“We will continue the time-frame of this search which may be extended now because of the setbacks with regard to weather and the processes we have to undertake if we find something.”

So far, detectives have dug up a garden bed beneath a balcony at William’s late foster grandmother’s home, seized a Mazda that used to belong to her for forensic examination, drained a creek nearby the home and scanned a garage floor in hopes of finding any trace of William.

DCS Bennett said that while police had “no great milestone” to report, investigators from Strike Force Rosann, tasked with finding out what happened to William, were “happy” with their progress so far.

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said atrocious weather was hindering the search. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“We couldn’t have picked a worse time in terms of weather. The weather has been atrocious pretty much since we started,” he said.

He said “numerous” objects had been found by police during the course of the search so far, and had been whisked away for further examination as the lengthy search for clues continues.

“Every item we take that will be deemed to be relevant will be forensically examined,” Det Chief Supt Bennett said.

“We won’t be announcing the results of those investigations... but we are very happy with items in terms of eliminating people or proving what happened to William Tyrrell.”

“It is painstaking, it’s difficult, but we are very happy with the progress so far and we are very comfortable with where we’re at.”

“The searching is twofold, to try and find something that connects to the disappearance of William Tyrrell and also to eliminate those locations relevant to the investigation,” he said.

Most recently, police divers swam through a dam and checked the water and septic tanks of the Benaroon Dr home on Thursday as investigators sifted through soil on the side of a creek bed.

Investigators have seized several items for further testing, including a piece of tattered fabric found in bushland.