A specific zone flagged in a community-driven search for the remains of a British child who went missing in Australia 55 years ago has turned out to be a false alarm, New South Wales Police said.
A volunteer team who used cadaver detection dogs in the quest for the missing child had hoped their finding would mark a major development in the case, which has remained a unsolved puzzle since she disappeared in 1970, when she was just three years old.
But skeletal fragments that were uncovered in the location belong to an animal, law enforcement stated in reply to queries, noting that the operation had "concluded."
Investigators suspect the young girl, who had emigrated from Bristol with her relatives, was abducted from Fairy Meadow beach in the city in the start of 1970.
Latest Investigation Steps
Thursday's search took place in a local suburb, on a tiny section of woodland referenced in a confession made by a young male.
In 2019, a court case of the accused, known only by a codename, Mercury, who'd been indicted with the crimes against Cheryl, collapsed. The man, in his 60s then, had rejected any involvement.
Prosecutors later dropped charges against him as a judge disallowed the confession he made as a minor.
Unsolved Case
Police have carried out numerous investigations in the decades since Cheryl disappeared, but have uncovered limited clues as to what happened to her.
Local officials have announced a one million Australian dollar reward for information on the case of Cheryl's disappearance and presumed death.
Relatives' Views
Cheryl's brother Ricki, 62, has openly discussed what he believes are errors in the official inquiry dating back to the time she went missing.
He was seven years old then. He last saw his sister in the changing rooms at the beach on the date she disappeared.
Community Action
A petition asking the local government to set up an inquiry into missing persons investigations handled by the police force, such as Cheryl's, gathered more than 10,000 supporters this summer.
It was discussed in parliament, but in a response responding to petitioners, officials made no promise to holding an review.
