THE search at Kendall on NSW's Mid North Coast for missing boy William Tyrrell has unearthed "numerous exhibits" that have been sent to be forensically examined.
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Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett, NSW Police State Crime Command Director, gave a brief update of the search on Friday (November 26) morning.
"The message from the investigative team is what they've located so far is cause enough to keep going," he said.
Over a dozen items have been uncovered in top soil at the Cobb and Co Rd/Batar Creek Rd search site over the past 12 days, including pieces of cloth and a hessian bag. All of the potential evidence has been photographed, bagged and set to the Forensic and Analytical Science Service (FASS) in Sydney for testing. It's not yet known whether these discoveries are of significance to the case.
"The update is that the search continues. It is painstaking, it is difficult, and we are very happy with the progress so far," Mr Bennett said.
"There have been numerous exhibits seized which have been processed and the results of those reported to the investigative team and subsequently to the coroner."
Mr Bennett remains "confident" that Strike Force Rosann will put together a collection of information and evidence for the Coroner to continue the inquest into the disappearance of William seven years ago.
"We don't know what happened to William Tyrrell as we stand here now and we're trying to find out," he said.
The Strike Force has dealt with persistent rain over the past week, adding a difficult challenge to the search.
"We couldn't have picked a worse time, the weather has been atrocious," Mr Bennett said.
The search is now expected to be extended from three weeks to six.
Police divers visited the search site on Wednesday and Thursday this week. They went through a septic tank and water tank at William's late foster grandmother's former home on Benaroon Drive. A small dam near the Cobb and Co Rd/Batar Creek Rd search site was also inspected by police divers on Thursday.
"The coroner has been kept appraised of our progress, the painstaking search along with evidence we're gathered in the course of the investigation," Mr Bennett said.
"And we will continue the timeframe of this search, which may be extended now because of the setbacks with regard to weather and the processes we have to undertake if we find something."
For our full coverage of the search so far, read more:
- "We are looking for the remains of William Tyrrell"
- One suspect, three key search areas in renewed search for remains
- "We're all hoping it will be solved": garden focus of Tyrrell search
- Strike Force Rosann to build on solid evidence base in targeted William Tyrrell search
- Item discovery compared to Spiderman suit ruled out
- Forensic focus turns to garage; former Tyrrell detective slams 'wasted time' claims
- Kendall community's hope for closure in tragic Tyrrell story
- Strike Force to drain creek at Kendall
- Piece of blue cloth sent to forensics from Tyrrell creek search site
- A little boy at the centre of the tragic William Tyrrell story
- Tyrrell search to last 'weeks and weeks' as police battle challenging weather
- "We need to find William": search at Kendall to last a further four weeks
