William Tyrrell Shock twist
William Tyrrell’s grandmother was shocked to discover her best friend has been questioned about the crime GRANDMA’S HEARTACHE OVER NEW LEAD
William Tyrrell disappeared without a trace two years ago. Now, in a shocking new development, it’s been revealed his grandmother’s best friend, Kim Loweke, is at the centre of the investigation.
Police suspect this suburban grandma and close family friend could have information about the missing little boy, in a case that continues to haunt detectives and the nation.
“I just felt sick,” says William’s grandma Natalie Collins, referring to the moment she discovered her closest confidante was being questioned by police. “I don’t know why they’re involving her,” she adds, her voice shaking.
Dressed in his much loved Spider-man suit, William was last seen at 10.30am on September 12, 2014, playing in his other grandma’s front yard in Kendall on the NSW mid-north coast.
His mother and grandmother
were watchingw him play with his sisters – then he simply vanishe vanished. The alarm was raised immediatelyimmedia and police arrived at the scene by 11.06am.
Bizarre turn of events
A week-long search proved futile, leaving detectives to fear the worst and investigate his disappearance as a child abduction. They identified several persons of interest but are yet to charge anyone.
Last week, it was revealed Kim – an unemployed grandma and artist living in Sydney’s Western suburbs – had been questioned. Detectives asked Kim where she was on the day William disappeared and requested copies of her bank statements to support her claims.
“I can’t tell you where [I was] but I know I was here [at home],” Kim told A Current Affair.
Kim originally came to police attention when she applied for a three-bedroom home from the Department of Housing for her and William’s grandmother Natalie to live in.
“They thought that the third bedroom was for William,” explains Kim. “I said, ‘No, it’s not like that. It’s actually for my art, you know, I’m trying to get a spare room for my art.”
Natalie broke down in tears at the thought anyone could think she might be involved in William’s disappearance.
“That’s disgusting!” she says. “I wouldn’t hide him. Like Kim said, it would be good if we could find him. We’d hand him over anyway.”
However, Kim has also been asked questions about her car. She owns a silver Holden Commodore VX that matches the description of the grey sedan William’s mother saw parked near the house on the day William disappeared.
“Definitely wasn’t my car,” says Kim, when confronted with the likeness. “I wouldn’t be game to do stuff like that – kidnapping a little kid anyway. Why would you? It’s cruel.”
While police won’t comment on their questioning of Kim, she does have links to two of the prime suspects. Her flatmate is the brother-in-law of Tony Jones, who has been questioned extensively about William’s disappearance. Jones is facing five unrelated child rape charges, and told family he was out collecting scrap metal at the time of William’s suspected abduction.
Kim is also friends with Tony’s estranged wife, Debbie, who lives near Kendall.
Another prime suspect linked to Kim is Bill Spedding. The white goods repairman visited the Tyrrells’ house twice for work in the month William disappeared. Kim had also hired him to fix her washing machine some years ago.
He has publicly denied any involvement in William’s disappearance, however suspicions were raised when a Spider-man toy was found in his white van. The married grandfather is also facing unrelated charges for indecent assault and having sexual intercourse with a child under 10.
Although William’s parents have spoken of their extreme distress over their missing boy, they have a complicated legal history that prevents them being identified, and do not want William’s siblings in the public eye.
“They deserve to grow up as individuals, not… as the brother or sister of the little boy who wentnt missing,” says William’s mum.
Growing despair
Heartbroken Natalie has all but given up hope William will returnn home. “I wish he was alive, but I don’t think he is,” she reveals.
However, Kim remains positive e William is still alive, and Natalie is standing by the woman who has been her tower of strength. “She’s ’s everything to me,” says Natalie, her face etched with trauma.
“Someone knows something,” she says, choking back tears. “I don’t know how they can live with themselves if someone’s got him, because this isn’t fair.”
‘I wouldn’t be game to do stuff like that – kidnapping a little kid’
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers rs on 1800 333 000.