‘We will never give up’: Police erect memorial at William Tyrrell search site

In a rare moving gesture, Police have left a touching memorial in the form of a signed rake at the Kendall site where authorities have been searching for the remains of William Tyrrell.

Search crews have spent the last month searching the area which is less than a kilometre from where William went missing from his foster grandmother’s house in 2014.

The rake featured messages on the handle from search members including, “we will never give up” and “We will not stop till we find you”.

Police have left a memorial at the NSW Mid North Coast site where they spent the last month searching for the remains of William Tyrrell. #9News https://t.co/cij1r5bXNf

— 9News Perth (@9NewsPerth) December 15, 2021

The placement of the makeshift memorial comes as the latest search draws to a close in the area with search efforts to end this week.

On Tuesday, December 14, NSW Police announced in a statement that the current search operations would draw to a close.

“The NSW Police Force advise current inquiries and search operations being undertaken in the Kendall area are expected to be completed in coming days,” the statement read.

“The forensic search, which is being conducted under a Coronial Order as part of ongoing investigations into the disappearance of William Tyrrell, has been ongoing since Monday 15 November 2021.

“Once the search operation is complete, a team will facilitate a repatriation of the site.”

Several items of potential evidence have been collected during the search including several pieces of fabric and most recently a bone fragment which is currently undergoing forensic testing. Police are also currently sifting through over 15 tonnes of soil from the search site for any potential clues. The investigation into William’s disappearance will remain ongoing.

“Further, forensic examinations of seized items and a significant quantity of soil remain ongoing,” a police statement said.

“Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame has been appraised, and Strike Force Rosann detectives continue to prepare a brief for the information of Her Honour.

“The NSW Police Force remains committed to finding William Tyrrell and investigations by the Homicide Squad’s Strike Force Rosann are ongoing.”

It’s been seven years since William disappeared from his foster grandmother’s house in New South Wales. He had been playing in the front yard of the property in Kendall, and was wearing a Spider-Man suit at the time of his disappearance. Despite extensive investigations and an exhaustive search by hundreds of volunteers and emergency service workers, the then three-year-old has not been found.