A specific zone flagged in a community-driven investigation for the remains of a British child who vanished in Australia 55 years ago has turned out to be a mistaken lead, local authorities confirmed.
A volunteer team who used specialized canines in the search for Cheryl Grimmer had believed their discovery would represent a major development in the investigation, which has remained a unsolved puzzle since she vanished in 1970, when she was three.
But bones that were found in the location are from an animal, police said in response to queries, noting that the search had "ended."
Investigators believe the young girl, who had emigrated from her UK hometown with her family, was taken from a coastal area in Wollongong in the start of 1970.
Recent Search Efforts
Thursday's search took place in Balgownie, on a small pocket of woodland referenced in a confession made by a teenage boy.
In the year 2019, a trial of the suspect, known only by a codename, Mercury, who'd been indicted with the crimes against Cheryl, ended abruptly. The man, in his 60s then, had rejected any involvement.
Prosecutors later dropped charges against him as a court official disallowed the statement he made as a minor.
Ongoing Mystery
Authorities have conducted many searches in the years since she went missing, but have found few leads as to what occurred to her.
NSW authorities have announced a A$1m incentive for tips on the case of Cheryl's disappearance and presumed death.
Family's Perspective
Cheryl's brother Ricki Nash, 62, has openly discussed what he believes are errors in the police investigation dating back to the time she went missing.
He was seven then. He final sighting of his sister in the locker area at Fairy Meadow on the date she disappeared.
Community Action
A petition asking the local government to set up an inquiry into missing persons investigations overseen by NSW Police, such as this one, collected more than 10,000 supporters this season.
It was discussed in the legislature, but in a response responding to petitioners, officials made no commitment to conducting an review.
