Police confident of William Tyrrell arrest despite early mistakes

A key ‘person of interest’ did not become a ‘suspect’ until police were well into the investigation, by which time crucial forensic evidence had been lost.

William Tyrrell. Picture: Supplied

NSW police searching for missing child William Tyrrell made critical mistakes in the earliest days of the search, hampering their ability to solve the crime.

A key “person of interest” did not become a “suspect” until police were well into the investigation, by which time crucial forensic evidence had been lost.

A potential witness for the crown has also since died, creating further frustration for police. However, detectives now in charge of the case still believe they can make an arrest in the case, ­despite the time that has elapsed.

William was three and dressed in a fire-engine red Spider-Man suit when he went missing from outside a house in the village of Kendall on the NSW north coast in September 2014. Police believe they have spoken to the culprit several times, but have stopped short of laying a charge.

William is one of four children born to a young Sydney couple. He and his older sister were in foster care when he disappeared.

William’s foster parents had travelled to Kendall from their home in Sydney to visit the foster mum’s mother. None of the parties can be named to protect William’s sister, who was playing with him shortly before he vanished.

His disappearance is one of the longest-running and most vexing missing persons’ cases in Australian history. The key mistakes made in the earliest hours include the failure by police to establish a cordon and put up police tape; to collect forensic evidence from the scene; and trace the movements of people, ­including well-known pedophiles known to be in the area.

A team of investigators have spent two years re-examining the case for the Seven Network’s program The Disappearance of William Tyrrell, which goes to air in Sydney on Sunday. The program re-examines all the evidence, going back to see what was missed the first time police went over it, and exploring some of the new leads that emerged. Police, suspects, family members and neighbours are interviewed.

NSW police made plain this week that they have not given up on the case, despite two of the most senior detectives having left the force.

The first detective on the case, Hans Rupp, has retired. He told The Australian two years ago that he believed the case would be solved by going back to all the old evidence and looking at it anew.

The next detective to take the reins, Gary Jubelin, quit the force after being accused of making ­illegal recordings of a neighbour who lived in the street from where William disappeared.

He was convicted, and fined, but remains convinced that the crime can be solved.

Caroline Overington will host a two-part series on the abduction, The Disappearance of William Tyrrell, on Channels 7 and 7 Plus on September 19 and 26