Investigators leading a dig for the remains of missing Sheffield toddler Ben Needham have said he ‘most likely’ died in an accident on the grounds of the Greek farmhouse where he vanished.
On the day of his disappearance, July 24, 1991, two-year-old Ben had been left in the care of his grandparents while his mother went to work at a local hotel. Ben had been coming in and out of the house when, at approximately 2.30pm, the adults realised he had disappeared.
Detectives now believe the 21-month-old may have tragically been crushed to death by a digger at the family’s Iraklis property. The breakthrough in the case came when a friend of the workman believed to be responsible came forward and revealed his information.
Now, after a fresh dig at two sites on the property, police are satisfied that an item discovered during the search was in Ben’s possession at the time of his disappearance. The item has not been identified publicly but has been shown to Ben’s parents.
“During the course of the inquiries we have made over the last 19 months, we have closed off a large number of theories about what happened to Ben, many of which have been open for over 20 years.” said Det Insp Jon Cousins.
“My team and I know that machinery, including a large digger, was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farmhouse that was being renovated by the Needhams.
“It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing.”
Police fear the child’s body may have been removed from the site and dumped with site rubble elsewhere.
Commenting on the search for her lost son, Kerry said: “I’d tear up the whole island to find him. I can’t say goodbye until I know where he is.”
