‘The hope has to outweigh the fear’
The mother of missing Invercargill boy Mike Zhao-Beckenridge is clinging to her unwavering belief that he is alive, after a forensic examination found no human remains inside the car linked to the 11-year-old.
A source close to the family said the forensics results had reaffirmed their feeling of hope that Mike would come home, but they were still left desperate for answers.
‘‘It’s an exceptionally hard thing for a mother to have to deal with,’’ the source said.
‘‘The only way I can try to describe it on her behalf is that the hope has to outweigh the fear. We’re just desperate for something that will tell us where he is.’’
Mike has been missing since March 13, when it is believed he was picked up from James Hargest College by his estranged stepfather John Beckenridge, 64, in breach of a Family Court parenting order.
The 64-year-old’s dark blue Volkswagen Toureg was recovered from the sea near Curio Bay in the Catlins. A forensic investigation completed on Monday revealed there were no human remains inside.
The source appealed to the public for information, and also directly to Mike.
‘‘We need people to realise that Mike may still be out there, and we hope they are still keeping an eye out. We do hope that Mike himself will be able to break free, wherever he is, and that he will come home to his mother.
It’s an exceptionally hard thing for a mother to have to deal with.
‘‘The family has always had very strong hope and belief, even before [the forensics results], and they’ll continue to have that.’’
Police will now refer the case to the coroner, but a police spokesperson said they would continue to investigate any new leads.
The Remarkables Primary School, which Mike attended before moving to Invercargill, said yesterday the school community continued to hope the police investigation would bring Mike’s family closure.
Anyone with information should contact their local police station or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.