Timeline: The Disappearance of William Tyrrell
It’s been seven years since three-year-old William Tyrrell went missing from Kendall in NSW. This week there has been a renewed effort in the search for the missing boy in the Spiderman costume, so how did we get here?
September 12, 2014
On the mid-north coast of NSW, just off the Pacific Highway is the small village of Kendall with a population of around 1,200 people. It was here that William Tyrrell was playing hide-and-seek with his five-year-old sister at his foster grandmother's house when he went missing. His foster-grandmother says she went inside for a short time to make a cup of tea around 10.00 am - 10.25 am, when she returned, William had vanished.
The house is located on Benaroon Drive in Kendall, and sits directly across from the Kendall State Forest, some 35kms south of Port Macquarie.
A search operation for the missing boy began involving Police and approximately 200 volunteers.
September 13, 2014
The search effort continued overnight and into the next day. At this point motorcycles, helicopters and horses are deployed to strengthen search efforts. The search focussed in the bushland around the home, paddocks and hilly terrain nearby.
September 14, 2014
The search carries on, now to include waterways and dams in the general area. Police advise they are beginning to look into other possibilities that could explain the little boys disappearance.
September 15, 2014
Strike Force Rosann is formed including specialist Police officer and members of the sex crime squad. The strike force consists of 14 detectives and analysts whose full time job is this case. Strike Force on is run by the homicide squad. Strike Force two provides assistance from Armed Holdup, Sex Crimes and Fraud squads. Local residents offer any and all information they can to these squads.
September 16, 2014
After five days and no leads it was determined that the young boy would not be alive if he was lost in bushland. The search was now a recovery and scaled out to a three kilometre radius of the home.
September 20, 2014
The family of William Tyrrell issue a heartfelt letter of thanks to the countless people involved in the search for the missing boy. “Thank you does not seem like the right sort of word to express our gratitude and heartfelt warmth we feel towards each and every one of you.”
At this point the Police had not ruled out an abduction, however they did not have any evidence to suggest it either. They confirm they are talking to all known sex offenders in the area.
September 21, 2014
It has now been nine days since William disappeared and the search had been scaled back. A community meeting is held and the public is informed that the Police will now be focussing on the information received during those first nine days.
January 20, 2015
The rural home of William Harrie Spedding in Bonny Hills, 20 kilometers from Kendall, is descended on by detectives. The pawn shop owner and whitegoods repairman had reportedly given a quote at the home where William disappeared in the days prior to his disappearance. At the time he visited the home, William was not staying there. The septic tank is drained, an excavator utilised and a number of items seized from the home.
The pawn shop believed to be operated by Mr Spedding was also searched with items such as a small mattress and computer equipment being seized.
Superintendent Paul Fehon confirmed that the raids were not considered to be a major breakthrough in the case.
February 19, 2015
The NSW Police plead for anyone within a one kilometre radius of the house on the day that William went missing to come forward.
March 2, 2015
A new search led by the homicide squad begins in bushland in Bonny Hills after a member of the public gave a tip off. This area is around 20 kilometres from where William was last seen.
April 16, 2015
Williams foster parents give their first public interview since the disappearance. His foster mother confirmed that she believed he was abducted. “We need to know where he is and we need to know what happened to him… ‘cause we can’t live forever… like this.”
April 17, 2015
After the emotional pleas of the foster parents, it is revealed that the NSW Police are now investigating reports of a paedophile ring. Detective Superintendent Michael Willing confirmed the new direction of the case. “We have information that we’ve received in relation to a paedophile ring that may be operating.”
June 11, 2015
Reports say that a spiderman toy had been found in William Speddings work van during Police investigations. NWS Police could not confirm this, or make any other comments.
June 26, 2015
To mark William Tyrrell's fourth birthday, the appeal for information into his disappearance is renewed.
August 4, 2015
Another appeal for information is launched into the boy's disappearance as a part of National Missing Persons Week.
September 7, 2015
Police make another appeal- this time for information regarding two cars that were parked opposite the house at the centre of the missing persons case- Williams foster-Grandmothers. Information was also requested about a sedan that drove past the driveway the kids were riding their bikes that morning, and a four wheel drive apparently speeding through the area in the time after William vanished.
The recording of the phone call made to 000 by Willaim Tyrrell's mother in the moments after she realised he was gone was also released by the Police.
September 12, 2015
As the one year anniversary of William's disappearance is reached thousands of people in Australia and overseas join in Walk for William events in support of the search for the missing boy in the Spiderman costume. It was hoped that the strength shown would prompt someone to come forward with new information. “Somebody out there knows something and we hope that somebody is brave enough to come forward and let the Police know.” said Dale Symonds, Bravehearts organiser.
September 16, 2015
The vehicle fitting the description of the white station wagon that was parked opposite the house on the day of the disappearance is seized from Wauchhope to be forensically examined.
September 19, 2015
The disappearance of William Tyrrell is referred to the coroner's court.
December 21, 2015
As another Christmas without their son draws closer, his parents release a poem to their son. “We wish that you are safe. That you are happy, that you are being loved. But most of all, we wish that you were here with us.”
February 16, 2016
William's parents plead with the public to not give up hope that William will be found. This statement is released on Facebook. NSW Police respond with the confirmation that the investigation is proceeding under the assumption the boy is still alive and will do so- until proven otherwise.
September 12, 2016
The second anniversary of the disappearance is marked with a $1 million reward for information that leads to Williams return, whether that be alive or not. At this point NSW had not offered a reward this big ever. The previous record was a reward of $500,000 for information on Michelle Bright in 1999.
August 24, 2017
A ruling by the NSW Supreme Court allowed for information regarding Williams foster-chil;d status to be revealed, which was, until this point, not known.
June 12, 2018
Nearly four years since William disappeared a large-scale forensic search in the bushland near his foster Grandmother's home is launched. The extensive search was carried out over four weeks by search experts from the Public Order and Riot Squad.
Police also revealed that in the time since Williams disappearance over 700 people of interest had been identified and in excess of 4000 pieces of evidence gathered.
March 25, 2019
The coronial inquest into the disappearance of William Tyrrell begins. Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame oversees the inquest which is to determine whether the boy wandered off, or if he was taken. During this inquest both his foster parents and biological parents are questioned.
November 11, 2019
Images that show William and his foster sister at a McDonalds Heatherbrae on the day before he vanishes are released. These images were shared during the inquest and show the family of four at 6.30pm on September 11, 2014.
October 7, 2020
In a phone recording that was played to the court in the final days of the inquest, Williams' sister shared an emotional plea to find her brother. I hope this speech helps you solve the case. If it doesn't, when I am officially an adult, I will be in the police force, a detective specifically, and I will find my brother and not give up until he is found.” The girl is around 12 years old at this point.
March 7, 2021
William's foster-grandmother, one of the last people to see William dies, aged 88.
June 18, 2021
This is the original date the coronial inquest was due to release their findings, this, however, was postponed.
June 26, 2021
On what would have been Williams 10th birthday the NSW Police made a statement in relation to the case. “We acknowledge that today marks another important milestone without answers for the families and as such, our focus remains on the investigation to find out what happened to William.”
September 6, 2021
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph a senior officer from the NSW Police reveals that they are talking to a new person of interest in the case.
November 15, 2021
Police reveal a new lead in the William Tyrrell case. Hundreds of officers will begin searching in three specific locations in Kendall for the remains of the little boy. Later on during the day Police are seen searching a small waterway off Batar Creek Road, an area less than a kilometre from his foster-Grandmothers home.
November 16. 2021
It is reported that a new suspect, who at the time was not named for legal reasons has been identified. This person recently had a child removed from her custody and an AVO taken out against her.
Police were also seen digging up the garden beds underneath the balcony of his foster-grandmothers home. Investigators are reportedly analysing the soil for evidence.
November 17, 2021
The car of Williams foster-grandmother is seized. The current owners, a couple from Sutherland Shire in Sydney are not believed to be connected to the case in anyway- they simply purchased the car after the death of his foster-grandmother. NSW Police are undertaking forensic investigations to conclude if the car was used to transport Williams body, this is expected to take several weeks.
It has been revealed that the foster parents of William Tyrrell have been charted over the alleged assault of a child who was not William. His now 56 year old foster mother and 54 year old foster father are due to appear in court on November 23.
The investigation is currently focussed on Williams foster-mother.
