New hope in the search for WILLIAM TYRRELL
Could the family of the toddler who vanished without a trace three years ago finally get answers?
With NSW’S biggest ever reward still on offer and a compelling new twist in the marathon investigation to find three-year-old William Tyrrell, his foster parents have shared an emotional plea to find their beautiful little boy.
“Where are you William? Where are you our precious little boy? Tomorrow will mark the third anniversary of your abduction and three tragic years of unspeakable heartbreak and endless tears.
“Tomorrow will mark three years without you, three years of not knowing where you are, three years of keeping hope in our hearts that with every new tomorrow will come the day you’ll be found.”
The couple, who insist on anonymity to protect William’s three siblings, say they will “never stop” looking for William.
Police last week also reaffirmed their “determination” to find the boy who will be forever remembered dressed in his beloved Spider-man costume – as well as the $1 million reward for his safe return or recovery.
“Our team is mindful of the unresolved grief William’s family is feeling at the moment, and as investigators we are seeking to provide answers above all else,” says lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin.
“The last 12 months hasn’t been any easier than previous years – we are frustrated that after three years we are not where we want to be.
POLICE CLOSE IN
“During this time, we have substantially reduced our list of potential persons of interest.
“However, this is a dynamic investigation – just as we will exhaust a line of inquiry, we will add new persons of interest when they come into our sights.”
“We are interested in speaking to people who suspect someone they know may have information specifically related to his disappearance.
“We’re looking for people with concerns about people
they know, their family, whose reaction when William’s name is mentioned causes suspicion.
“I have ruled out the foster care parents and have ruled out the biological parents as being involved in this investigation.
“We are not interested in sightings of a child… in a Spider-man suit playing in the Mcdonald’s car park... or information from clairvoyants or people that have dreams.”
William – whose case will be highlighted in a new digital ad campaign this week – was playing in the garden of his foster grandmother’s house in Kendall on the NSW North Coast when he vanished on September 12, 2014.
She has since sold the house and moved away, but a new twist has led investigators back to the scene. Police initially focused on vehicles spotted in the cul-de-sac where the house is located, but the Walk4william advocate group say a new line of enquiry has opened up – that a back track could have been used as an escape route by the abductor or abductors.
ESCAPE ROUTE
The group reveals a 4WD could be driven down the track to a cemetery, that would then offer access to a major road.
DCI Jubelin hopes the reward will encourage a new witness – urging anyone who knows or suspects anything about William’s disappearance to come forward, saying it could be someone’s behaviour at the time of William’s disappearance, or even a reaction to when his name is mentioned that “might cause suspicion”.
“That’s one million reasons why somebody that’st out there
thatt knows what’s happened should come forward and talk to us, and do it soon,” DCI Jubelin says.
To paint a more complete picture of William, the identities of his biological parents were also revealed last week, including that he was the nephew of 5 Seconds Of Summer’s lead guitarist Michael Clifford, who sadly never got the chance to meet him.
William is the second of four children born to Karlie Tyrrell and was seven months old when he was removed from the care of Karlie and his father Brendan Collins. Concerns were raised for William’s wellbeing after allegations of domestic violence and drug use in their home.
William and his older sister were placed with a wealthy foster family on Sydney’s North Shore.
It was intended to be a permanent place where the siblings could feel safe and happy. The foster family even renovated their house to create a “forever family home” to raise the children in.
After three heartbreaking years, DCI Jubelin says police had not and will not give up. “We are still determined to find out what happened to young William.”
‘Come forward, and do it soon’