The search for William Tyrrell’s remains on the NSW Mid North Coast could now take months, police say, with the wet weather drenching the state “becoming a real problem”.
Officers and specialist investigators are searching the area surrounding the home from which William disappeared seven years ago.
NSW Police divers search a creek for the remains of William Tyrrell on Thursday. Credit:Louise Kennerley
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said 11 days into the search, officers remained “enthusiastic” and were happy about the progress made.
“We know that we’re progressing well through the coronial order task,” he told Sydney radio station 2GB on Friday morning.
He said it was initially predicted the search could take weeks but it was now possible it could extend months.
“If it takes months then that is what it takes,” he said.
“We are watching the weather though, it is becoming a real problem.”
William Tyrrell vanished in 2014 dressed in his Spider-Man suit.
Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said investigators were “very happy” with the evidence they had seized so far in the “painstaking” search for William’s remains.
“The update is, the search continues… we have no great milestone to report today,” he said.
Superintendent Bennett said the “atrocious” weather meant the search may take much longer than what investigators initially planned for.
“Numerous exhibits have been seized which have been progressed forensically through Newcastle into Sydney and the progress of those results have been submitted to the coroner to assist with the inquest,” he said.
“We’re very happy with the items we’ve found in terms of the relevance of the investigation. In terms of both eliminating people or proving what happened to William Tyrrell.”
Police have been probing the possibility William fell from a second-storey balcony to his death while visiting his foster-grandmother in 2014.
Investigators believe his body may have been dumped in nearby bushland. Earlier this month, police seized for forensic testing the Mazda 3 that belonged to William’s foster-grandmother.
Investigators spent last week digging up the garden below the balcony and combing over a five-metre square patch of bushland a kilometre down the road.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in National
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article