William Tyrell search enters fourth day as police investigate possible abduction and other scenarios

AS THE desperate search for three-year-old William Tyrell enters its fourth day, police are not ruling out abduction and hold grave fears for the little boy.

William Tyrell

POLICE have not ruled out abduction as a possible explanation for the disappearance of three-year-old William Tyrell, who went missing on the NSW mid-north coast on Friday.

A group of emergency services will complete another exhaustive search today of the 1.5km radius from where he was last seen — the front yard of his grandparents’ home in Benaroon Drive, Kendall, near Port Macquarie.

As the search stretches into its fourth day, police, State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service, surf lifesaving club and even members of the local pony club have joined forces to scour bushland.

“We need to be open-minded; while we’ve got a change for survival we are going to focus on locating young William out there, but of course all aspects will be covered,” Superintendent Paul Fehon told Channel Nine this morning.

Police have been optimistic in their search for William since he went missing about 10.30am Friday, hopeful to find him curled up seeking warmth, weary and resting after days without food or water.

But as the search enters its fourth day without having uncovered any trace of William — not even a shoe, a trail or any torn bits of clothing — it’s looking less likely that William will show up alive.

While 30 extra SES volunteers have been deployed from as far as Sydney to join the rescue team, already 200 strong, along with aircrews, mountain police and search dogs, police have conceded they are also investigating “other scenarios” that could have led to William’s disappearance.

Abduction has not been ruled out.

Police have said there is no specific information pointing to a possible cause of William’s disappearance, and while the search continues and the family and community of Kendall grows desperate to find the missing boy, Inspector Fehon, who is leading the search said yesterday: “as time passes that window does diminish”.

“We intend to continue this search (but) as time goes on, obviously the (chance of) survival diminishes,” Supt Fehon said.

“We still hold hopes of young William being out there, with the current conditions.”

Speaking on behalf of William’s distraught parents, a close family friend said they were “desperate”.

“He is a much-loved, cherished little boy,” the woman, who wanted to be known only as Nicole, said.

“The family are desperate to have him home so if anyone out there has seen this little boy, knows anything about William — where he is — we just urge you please to contact the police.”

William was last seen wearing a Spiderman costume, playing with his sister in the front yard of his grandparents’ home at Kendall.

He is described as being caucasian in appearance, with dark hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.