Expert archaeologists to assist with search for schoolboy murdered 47 years ago

Forensic advice from the US may hold the key to the investigation of a schoolboy murdered in country Victoria in 1975.

In 2010, police offered $100,000 for information in regard to the 1975 disappearance of Terry Floyd in Avoca. Picture: Floyd Family

The family of murdered schoolboy Terry Floyd will seek expert archaeological advice from the USA after a renewed search for his remains has taken a significant step forward.

Cadaver dogs used for the first time in the 46-year search for Terry’s remains showed notable interest in the Morning Star mine at Bung Bong Hill, near Avoca — the site his family believe is his final resting place.

Terry’s brother Daryl said the development “ripped at the heart strings” but was a huge step forward in the quest for answers.

“This is all about Terry, the poor little kid who lost his life for no reason at all,” Mr Floyd told the Herald Sun.

Terry Floyd (middle), Daryl Floyd (bottom), Ray Floyd (top).

Underground miner Nathan Ward on the top of the mine shaft they have been searching. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“One of the dogs had a very strong interest at the top of the mine shaft. The way the dog reacted, it was so full on. He wouldn’t take his focus off the mine. It was just incredible.”

Terry, 12, disappeared on June 28 in 1975 while waiting for a lift from Avoca to his Maryborough home and was last seen on the side of the Pyrenees Highway.

Mr Floyd has taken his brother’s cold case into his own hands, devoting large sums of his personal finances to excavate about 80 per cent of the mine, which was filled in several years ago.

He will now seek expert forensic advice from the USA in a bid to complete the complex search.

“It rips at the heartstrings, but completing the search there has to be done now,” he said.

“It is a step in the right direction. We need to finish this now, it warrants further investigation. It is so crucial. I promised my parents I would never give up finding Terry.

“The renewed search has been draining, it’s been a huge thing. You always know what you are going there to look for, it is never going to change. But reality is starting to set in now.”

A $1 million reward is currently in place for information that solves Mr Floyd’s disappearance.

The investigation is ongoing.

DOGS ON THE JOB

A crew of specialist handlers and their highly trained dogs have begun a renewed search for the remains of schoolboy murder victim Terry Floyd.

The search is being conducted in central Victoria near Avoca.

Terry, 12, disappeared on June 28 in 1975 while waiting for a lift from Avoca to his Maryborough home and was last seen on the side of the Pyrenees Highway.

Police believed he was abducted and murdered.

The family-run search has been spearheaded by Terry’s brother, Daryl Floyd.

The three-day search is incorporating specialist human remains dogs – Boof and Rufus – for the first time.

The volunteer search team will focus on a 500m radius in what is now a state forest area near Avoca, which at the time of Terry’s disappearance was a mining hotspot.

Previous searches which have been conducted by police have failed to make a breakthrough discovery of Terry’s remains.

No charges have been laid, more than 46 years after the alleged crime.

Victoria Police’s Homicide Squad reopened its investigation into the schoolboy’s disappearance in 2000 and the following year a coroner determined that he was murdered.

Daryl Floyd at the memorial for Terry. Picture: Alex Coppel

Family-run search for Terry Floyd remains. Involves two sniffer dogs. Adele Jago, and her dog Chilli. Picture: Alex Coppel

In 2014, police increased the reward on offer for information that solves Mr Floyd’s disappearance to $1 million.

Daryl Floyd said his family would not give up.

“We are doing it because it has never been done,” he said.

“There is an old saying, failure to search is failure to find. You just do what you’ve got to do.

“This is all about getting boxes ticked which should have been done 46 years ago.”

The investigation is ongoing.

FAMILY RENEWS SEARCH FOR REMAINS OF MISSING SCHOOLBOY

A renewed family-run search for the remains of schoolboy murder victim Terry Floyd will commence on Friday in central Victoria.

Terry Floyd, 12, disappeared on June 28 in 1975 while waiting for a lift from Avoca to his Maryborough home and was last seen on the side of the Pyrenees Highway.

Police believe he was abducted and murdered but his remains have not been found and no charges have been laid, more than 46 years after the alleged crime.

Terry’s brother Daryl Floyd is leading the charge on a new three-day search which will incorporate specialist human remains dogs for the first time.

“A 12-year-old boy should never have lost his life on the side of the road with no answers since, that is something I have always believed in,” Mr Floyd told the Herald Sun.

Daryl Floyd, the brother of missing murdered schoolboy Terry Floyd.

“I promised my parents I would always continue to find out what happened to Terry.

“He wasn’t just my brother, he was my best mate. There are so many family members who live in hope for answers, we are hoping this search could be the last piece of the puzzle.”

President of non-for-profit Search Dogs Sydney Chris Darcy said two dogs — Rufus and Boof — will complete forensic searches of the area in pursuit of finding human remains.

“We are looking for parts of Terry’s body, given the duration of his disappearance,” Mr Darcy said.

“It is a needle in a haystack, you have to be slow, thorough, methodical.

“The human body continues to give off scents called volatile organic compounds, even as a skeleton.

“We are happy to be able to assist Daryl and hopefully get his family some closure.”

The volunteer search team will focus on a 500m radius in what is now a state forest area, which at the time of Terry’s disappearance was a mining hotspot.

Victoria Police’s Homicide Squad reopened its investigation into the schoolboy’s disappearance in 2000 and the following year a coroner determined the he was murdered.

Search and Rescue Squad police dig open the old disused mine shaft at Talbot in their search for the remains of missing schoolboy Terry Floyd. (1997)

In 2014, police increased the reward on offer for information that solves Mr Floyd’s disappearance to $1 million.

Daryl Floyd said his family would not give up.

“We are doing it because it has never been done,” he said.

“There is an old saying, failure to search is failure to find. You just do what you’ve got to do.

“This is all about getting boxes ticked which should have been done 46 years ago.”

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.