Private search launched for Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon more than 50 years after disappearance

A group of locals and geologists armed with an excavator and cadaver dogs are set to search for evidence of two girls more than 50 years after they disappeared.

A new, private search for evidence related to two girls who disappeared from an oval in Adelaide more than 50 years ago has kicked off.

Joanne Ratcliffe, 11, and Kirste Gordon, 4, were with their families at an AFL match at Adelaide Oval on August 25, 1973.

The two girls left the Edwin Smith stand, where they were seated with their families, and went to the toilet together at about 3.45pm.

When the two girls failed to return, Joanne’s father began searching for them, and a missing person’s report was filed a short time later.

Witnesses claim they saw the two girls being forcibly removed and carried away by a man, believed to be aged in his 40s.

Kirste Gordon went missing in 1973. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Joanne Ratcliffe went missing alongside Kirste at an AFL match at Adelaide Oval Picture: File Photo

Joanne and Kirste were never seen again, with police long believing they were likely abducted and murdered.

A composite sketch of the man believed to have taken the girls – in which he is wearing a distinctive hat – was released by SA Police in September 1973, and has been regularly associated with the case in the decades since.

A composite photo of a suspect. Picture: Supplied.

The composite was released by SA Police in September 1973, and has been regularly associated with the case in the decades since. Picture: Used "The Advertiser" 28 Aug 1973.

Journalist Bryan Littlely, who co-founded missing persons awareness group Leave A Light On Inc alongside Ratcliffe’s sister Suzie, is leading the search, which is set to look at multiple areas including a private property north of Yatina, according to ABC News.

Suzie told 9 NEWS families of missing persons are “living a life of limbo”.

“Families of long-term missing persons, we can’t move on, we’re living a life of limbo, not knowing what happened to our love ones,” Suzie told the network.

Littlely claimed the girls may have been murdered at a Yatina shack before their bodies were put in barrels and left at Pekina, the broadcaster reported.

South Australia Police have conducted searches for the girls over the years. Picture: SA Police

Locals, cadaver dogs, geologists and even an excavator are set to search the areas.

“We don’t have the belief that we would find human remains themselves but we might find something else,” Littley said.

Pekina reservoir is set to be searched on Sunday.

However South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens earlier said police had “previously searched that location and at this point in time we don’t believe there is any evidence that warrants any further investigation in relation to those circumstances”, the ABC reported.

A South Australia Police spokesperson said the disappearance of the two girls “remains an active and ongoing investigation and police are not in a position to comment at this time”.

Originally published as Private search launched for Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon more than 50 years after disappearance