The Homicide Squad's Strike Force Rosann has marked the seventh anniversary of the disappearance of William Tyrrell by returning to Kendall, on the NSW Mid North Coast.
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Strike Force Rosann Officer-in-Charge, Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw, said detectives returned to Kendall with forensic teams and local police as part of their review into the circumstances surrounding William's disappearance, to review evidence collected over the seven year investigation and explore or clarify information that may have surfaced as a part of the coronial inquest into the boy's disappearance.
"The Strike Force Rosann team returned to Kendall with local detectives and specialist forensic officers to have another look at the residence where William was last seen, as well as other areas nearby," Det Ch Insp Laidlaw said.
"Further information has since come to light, as part of our ongoing review of the materials gathered by investigators since the moment William went missing seven years ago.
"As our team continue to conduct inquiries and explore all avenues of investigation, our focus has been identifying if anything has been missed, or if there are any details - no matter how small - that need to be clarified.
"Police remain committed to finding out what happened to William, but our most important job here is to bring him home for both families."
How long will you continue to make us suffer? When will you choose to come forward and end the nightmare we've endured every day for the past 2558 days since you took William from his happy life?
- William Tyrrell's family
Det Ch Insp Laidlaw would not elaborate on what any of that new information might have revealed.
William's family, via the Where's William Facebook page, made a plea to anyone with information to come forward.
"On the seventh anniversary of William's disappearance, we ask of the person or persons involved; how much more heartbreak must be endured before you come forward?
"When you took William, you plunged our world into perpetual darkness.
"How long will you continue to make us suffer? When will you choose to come forward and end the nightmare we've endured every day for the past 2558 days since you took William from his happy life?"
Shortly before 10.30am on Friday 12 September 2014, William, then aged three, was playing in the yard of his grandmother's home on Benaroon Drive, Kendall, when he disappeared.
Hundreds of residents and emergency service workers and volunteers searched homes, forests, creeks and paddocks throughout the rural township, but William could not be located.
Detectives and analysts from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad have been investigating the circumstances surrounding William's disappearance from the outset under Strike Force Rosann.
They have been working under the premise that his disappearance was as a result of human intervention.
The Strike Force returned to Kendall in 2018 for another forensic search of the area.
Then Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin said at that time that while there was no evidence of William being in the location, there is a person who knows why investigators were searching this area.
The Strike Force wanted absolute certainty they have the investigation covered should it result in an arrest or go to an inquest, he said.
Since that time, Strike Force Rosann has conducted extensive investigations and actively engaged with the Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame during the coronial process.
Detectives are continuing to conduct interviews, searches and other investigative activity, including those under Coronial Orders, as well as reviewing all available materials with the assistance of various experts.
I will find my brother and not give up until he is found.
- William's sister
The coronial inquest commenced into William's disappearance in March 2019 and remains ongoing.
The inquest has considered thousands of pieces of evidence collected by Strike Force Rosann, statements by persons of interest and recollections by family and neighbours of the morning William vanished.
The Strike Force continues to pursue leads and persons of interest and encourages anyone who may have information to still come forward.
The inquest concluded in Lidcombe Coroner's Court in Sydney on October 8, 2020. with an emotional plea by his 10-year-old sister - "I will find my brother and not give up until he is found".
The inquest aims to determine if William's disappearance is a result of misadventure or by the hands of another person or persons.
The coronial inquest findings were to be handed down by Deputy State Coroner Grahame in June 2021. A new date has not been determined.
The $1 million NSW government reward for information that leads to the recovery of William Tyrrell, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, remains in place.
Police are urging anyone with information about the disappearance of William Tyrrell to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.