2021 search for William Tyrrell was ‘overconfident’, Gary Jubelin claims

Police spent weeks combing parts of Kendall in a renewed search for William Tyrrell but search has now ‘petered out’, former lead investigator Gary Jubelin says.

The renewed search into the disappearance of missing toddler William Tyrrell was “overconfident”, the former lead investigator has claimed.

Three year-old William disappeared from his grandmother‘s home in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast in September 2014.

A $1 million reward for information was offered, hundreds of persons of interest identified and police resources poured into renewed search effort in 2021, but the toddler has never been found.

Missing toddler William Tyrrell, who has not been seen since September 2014. Supplied

But former lead detective in the search for William, Gary Jubelin, has claimed police who re-examined key search sites in 2021 were “overconfident” in their hopes of finding out William’s fate.

Ex-detective Mr Jubelin told 2GB on Friday that despite police speaking openly about potentially finding a breakthrough, that had now “petered out”.

“It certainly built up to that but it definitely petered out,” Mr Jubelin said.

“It didn‘t appear that anything was found in that very, very comprehensive search.

Gary Jubelin has criticised the renewed search effort in the Kendall area as “overconfident”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

“It seemed to be overly confident, the way that was portrayed, it was almost like it was a fait accompli, and as it‘s played out something was going to be found and as it’s played out, nothing was found at the time.”

Mr Jubelin was removed from William‘s case and retired from policing in 2019 after he was found to have unlawfully recorded an interview with a person of interest.

Police announced they would renew the search into William‘s disappearance in September, carrying out an extensive re-examination of the North Coast area where William disappeared.

In November and December a creek bed was drained, bushland turned over and the back garden of the Kendall home William’s foster grandmother lived in was excavated.

Investigators dig up at site in Kendall amid the search for William. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Peter Lorimer.

Fabric scraps were found and seized to be forensically examined, and police also seized a car which used to belong to the grandmother.

Further information on the evidence and whether it has led to any breakthroughs has not been made public.

Mr Jubelin said he “assumed” the public would be told if anything worthwhile had been found, and again criticised the handling of the search effort.

“I assume so, and there‘s one thing working hard but there’s also working smart,” he said.

“If they found something, I imagine they would be aware of that by now, but it‘s one thing to put all these resources in but it’s got to be driven by a purpose.”

“It was about six, seven weeks of searching and as far as I know things haven‘t been found.”

He added later: “The way it was portrayed … gave everyone the confidence there was going to be a major breakthrough, then that sort of went silent and just petered out.”

Despite his comments, Mr Jubelin said he didn‘t want to be “critical” of the investigation.

“I don‘t think there’d be a member of the NSW Police that doesn’t want to solve this case and bring closure to the family or some resolution to the family.”