The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Police believe missing Ben died in accident
investigation: Family shown item found during search
Missing toddler Ben Needham is believed to have died as a result of an accident, police have said.
Detectives from the South Yorkshire force formally ended a three-week search of Kos on Sunday afternoon, and at a press conference on the Greek island revealed they had discovered an item thought to have been with the youngster at the time of his disappearance on July 24 1991.
The search was prompted by information that a digger driver may have been responsible for the Sheffield boy’s death, as he was clearing land with an excavator near where Ben was playing the day he vanished.
Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said: “It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing. An item found on Saturday, which I have shown personally to some of Ben’s family, was found in one of the targeted areas at the second site, very close to a dated item from 1991.
“It is our initial understanding that this item was in Ben’s possession around the time he went missing.”
Ben’s mother Kerry Needham told the Daily Mirror she wanted to “tear up” the whole Greek island.
She said: “They know he’s dead but just can’t find him. Police said it’s time we ended our 25-year search.
“They are right but I can’t say goodbye knowing he’s still on that island somewhere.
“I feel physically sick. I can’t feel any worse than I do.”