It’s been almost four years since then-three-year-old William Tyrrell disappeared from his grandmother’s front yard in Kendall, New South Wales.
There has been extensive searching, persons of interest interviewed repeatedly and rewards offered for any information about the little boy in his iconic Spiderman suit, but to no avail.
Two weeks ago, police announced they were returning to the town he was last seen to conduct a four-week forensic sweep. On the first day, a toy was found in the area, but fresh information has seen investigators shift their search to a new area just four kilometres from where William was last seen alive.
Today—one day after what would be William’s seventh birthday—officers from Strike Force Rosann will concentrate on an area of land outside the established forensic search area near Port Macquarie, New South Wales. Meanwhile, police plan to comb an area of bushland around Cedar Loggers Lane and Batar Creek Road in Batar Creek.
When police announced they would be conducting the month-long forensic sweep, William’s grandmother implored investigators to stop wasting their time.
“This is just opening old wounds for us, the door never closes… They’re never going to find William — I just know in my heart he’s dead,” 59-year-old Natalie Collins told The Daily Telegraph.
“I know exactly what’s happened, someone’s taken him and done something to him. Brendan [William’s father] says it too, he believes William’s gone.”
Brendan wrote an open letter to the Daily Telegraph regarding his son’s tragic disappearance.
“I’ve been out looking for you with a shovel digging in bushland… I know there’s no point,” he shared.
“I think you’re dead, I think someone has hurt you bad. I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you.”
William’s father goes on to say he tried to run away with William when he was just nine months old, until DOCS took him into care.
“I know I’ve had a history of drugs problems but I’d never harm my boy.”
“DOCS took him from me to keep him safe and now… he’s probably dead,” he said.
Despite the fears from his grandmother and biological father, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin says investigators will continue their search and act with the possibility that William is alive.
