Animal Bones Discovered in Hunt for Child Who Disappeared 55 Years Ago
The "area of interest" identified in a volunteer-led search for the body of a British girl who vanished in the land down under fifty-five years ago has proven to be a mistaken lead, New South Wales Police confirmed.
A volunteer team who used cadaver detection dogs in the quest for Cheryl Grimmer had believed their discovery would represent a major development in the investigation, which has remained a mystery since she vanished in the year 1970, when she was just three years old.
But skeletal fragments that were found in the location belong to an non-human creature, law enforcement said in reply to queries, noting that the search had "concluded."
Authorities suspect the young girl, who had moved from Bristol with her family, was taken from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong in the start of 1970.
Recent Search Efforts
The recent operation happened in Balgownie, on a small pocket of woodland mentioned in a confession made by a young male.
In the year 2019, a trial of the accused, known only by a codename, the pseudonym, who'd been charged with the crimes against Cheryl, collapsed. The individual, in his sixties then, had denied any involvement.
Prosecutors later dropped charges against him as a court official disallowed the confession he made as a minor.
Ongoing Mystery
Authorities have conducted numerous investigations in the years since Cheryl disappeared, but have found few clues as to what happened to her.
Local officials have offered a one million Australian dollar incentive for information on the case of Cheryl's disappearance and presumed death.
Family's Perspective
Her sibling Ricki, sixty-two, has openly discussed what he believes are mistakes in the official inquiry dating back to the time she disappeared.
He was seven then. He last saw his sibling in the locker area at Fairy Meadow on the day she vanished.
Community Action
A petition asking the state parliament to establish an investigation into missing persons investigations overseen by NSW Police, such as Cheryl's, gathered more than ten thousand signatures this season.
It was discussed in the legislature, but in a response responding to petitioners, officials made no promise to conducting an inquiry.
