Strike Force to search bushland in Kendall for evidence relating to William Tyrrell’s disappearance
POLICE searching for William Tyrrell have been fitted with GPS trackers to avoid missing a single clue as they searched through 600sq m of dense scrub today.
NSW
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POLICE searching for William Tyrrell have been fitted with GPS trackers to avoid missing a single clue as they searched through 600sq m of dense scrub where the toddler went missing almost four years ago.
The search is aiming to show that three-year-old William’s disappearance was due to human intervention rather than an accident.
Police today said the four-week police-only forensic search, which began this morning, was happening because the initial search four years ago focused only on finding “a little boy lost”.
It involved hundreds of State Emergency Services volunteers and community members trudging through the bush to help the police effort.
For the next four weeks, teams of experts and hundreds of emergency services workers will conduct a sweep around the Kendall property near Port Macquarie, where the three-year-old was last seen on September 12, 2014.
Lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin this morning said authorities had “grave fears” for William.
“It has been a very long time,” he said.
“The purpose is that if we present evidence to a court, we can show beyond reasonable doubt that Williams disappearance was a result of human intervention and not through misadventure.”
William was playing in the yard of his foster grandmother’s home when he vanished.
A new search begins
Equipped with pitchforks, rakes and shovels, dozens of police have begun searching bushland on NSW’s mid north coast in a fresh search for clues to find missing William Tyrrell who disappeared four years ago.
The officers arrived at 8am, marching up the hillside next to the home in Benaroon Drive, Kendall where William went missing.
Strike Force Rosann detectives flew into Port Macquarie today to plan a large-scale forensic search for evidence relating to the boy’s disappearance from his grandmother’s home.
Forensic search experts from the Public Order and Riot Squad will lead a team of hundreds of local residents and emergency services workers who will scour the rural township, looking in forests, creeks and paddocks for the boy.
The bushland has been searched before but police found no trace of William.
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Someone knows something
The new search will coincide with William’s seventh birthday in two weeks’ time.
Det Insp Jubelin believes people do know what happened to the boy and reiterated the $1 million reward for information leading to William’s recovery.
“I strongly believe that there are people out there who have information on this and I want to make a point to those people that if you do have information concerning what happened to William, you are committing an offence if you do not come forward,” he said today.
He confirmed there were still persons of interest, but would not detail how many or who they were.
William’s foster family have never given up hope of finding the boy, and on Wednesday posted a message to social media.
“Today marks 1370 heartbreaking days since William disappeared,” it read.
“William’s loved ones are, and will forever be indebted to the tremendous ongoing commitment of NSW Police; in particular, Strike Force Rosann who have been absolutely relentless in their ongoing investigation in the search for William.
“Since that tragic day on Friday 12 September 2014, hearts across Australia have been broken, but we have and will continue to maintain unwavering faith in NSW Police and carry hope in our hearts that William will be found.
“He is in our hearts always … Always.”
William Tyrrell timeline
2014
SEPTEMBER 21 — Police stop searching for the missing boy after scouring surrounding bushland and neighbouring houses.
2015
JANUARY 20 — Police search the home and business of a washing machine repairman, who had been due to carry out repairs at the Kendall house at the time the boy disappeared.
JANUARY 23 — The washing machine repairman publicly denies any involvement in William’s disappearance and no charges have been laid against him.
FEBRUARY 19 — Homicide detectives take over the case and say it’s likely William was abducted.
MARCH 2 — Police search bushland near Bonny Hills for three days after a tip-off.
APRIL 17 — William’s foster parents speak publicly for the first time in an emotional video released through police which does not identify them.
APRIL 17 — Police say the boy may have been a victim of a paedophile ring.
SEPTEMBER 12 — “Where’s William” week is launched one year after he disappeared.
2016
SEPTEMBER 12 — A $1 million reward is offered for information leading to William’s return.
2017
AUGUST 24 — William’s foster child status is revealed after a court ruling.
2018
JUNE 12 — NSW Police announce the start of a four-week forensic search of bushland in Kendall.
Detectives and analysts from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding William’s disappearance under Strike Force Rosann.
The search will start tomorrow and is expected to last at least four weeks.
A police source told the Daily Telegraph the fresh search was part of plans to go back over old ground because police believe the original search was not thorough enough.
“We are just ticking all the boxes and making sure everything is being done thoroughly,” the source said.
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