Animal Remains Found in Search for Girl Who Disappeared 55 Years Ago

The "area of interest" identified in a volunteer-led search for the body of a English child who went missing in the land down under fifty-five years ago has proven to be a false alarm, New South Wales Police said.

A volunteer team who used specialized canines in the quest for the missing child had hoped their finding would represent a major development in the case, which has remained a unsolved puzzle since she disappeared in the year 1970, when she was three.

But skeletal fragments that were uncovered in the area are from an animal, law enforcement stated in reply to questions, adding that the operation had "ended."

Investigators suspect Cheryl, who had emigrated from Bristol with her relatives, was taken from a coastal area in the city in the start of 1970.

Latest Investigation Steps

The recent operation took place in a local suburb, on a tiny section of forest mentioned in a confession made by a teenage boy.

In 2019, a court case of the suspect, known only by a alias, the pseudonym, who'd been indicted with the crimes against Cheryl, ended abruptly. The individual, in his sixties then, had rejected any involvement.

Legal authorities later withdrew charges against him as a judge excluded the statement he made as a juvenile.

Ongoing Mystery

Police have carried out numerous searches in the decades since Cheryl went missing, but have uncovered limited leads as to what occurred to her.

NSW authorities have announced a A$1m reward for information on Cheryl's abduction and suspected murder.

Family's Perspective

Her sibling Ricki, 62, has publicly highlighted what he believes are mistakes in the police investigation dating back to the day she disappeared.

Mr Nash was seven then. He final sighting of his sister in the locker area at the beach on the day she vanished.

Community Action

A petition asking the state parliament to set up an investigation into missing persons investigations handled by NSW Police, such as this one, gathered more than 10,000 signatures this season.

It was discussed in parliament, but in a letter responding to those who signed, officials made no commitment to conducting an review.