Animal Bones Discovered in Search for Girl Who Vanished 55 Years Ago
A specific zone identified in a community-driven investigation for the remains of a English girl who vanished in the land down under 55 years ago has turned out to be a mistaken lead, local authorities confirmed.
A group of searchers who used cadaver detection dogs in the search for Cheryl Grimmer had believed their finding would represent a breakthrough in the investigation, which has stayed a unsolved puzzle since she disappeared in the year 1970, when she was just three years old.
But bones that were uncovered in the location are from an non-human creature, police stated in reply to questions, noting that the operation had "concluded."
Authorities suspect Cheryl, who had emigrated from Bristol with her relatives, was taken from Fairy Meadow beach in the city in the start of 1970.
Latest Investigation Steps
The recent operation took place in a local suburb, on a small pocket of forest referenced in a admission made by a young male.
In the year 2019, a court case of the accused, known only by a codename, the pseudonym, who'd been charged with Cheryl's abduction and murder, collapsed. The individual, in his sixties then, had rejected any wrongdoing.
Legal authorities later withdrew charges against him as a judge disallowed the confession he made as a juvenile.
Ongoing Mystery
Authorities have conducted numerous searches in the decades since Cheryl went missing, but have found limited leads as to what occurred to her.
NSW authorities have offered a one million Australian dollar incentive for information on Cheryl's abduction and suspected murder.
Relatives' Views
Her sibling Ricki, sixty-two, has publicly highlighted what he believes are mistakes in the police investigation going back to the day she disappeared.
Mr Nash was seven years old then. He final sighting of his sister in the changing rooms at the beach on the day she disappeared.
Public Response
A formal request asking the local government to establish an investigation into cases of disappeared individuals handled by NSW Police, such as this one, gathered more than ten thousand supporters this summer.
It was discussed in parliament, but in a response addressing those who signed, officials made no commitment to holding an review.