Greece BEN NEEDHAM: Missing from Kos, Greece - 24 July 1991 - Age 21 months

Toddler, Ben Needham, went missing on the Greek island of Kos. His mother Kerry, from Sheffield, has always maintained he was abducted.


Media - http://crimewatchers.net/index.php?...s-greece-since-24-july-1991-age-21-months.91/

 

[Regina]

Ben's mother wasn't there at the time. She was working according to the new detail they are giving out.

I definitely won't be buying or reading her book.

Yes, I've always known the mother wasn't there, that she was working.
The only reason I'm hesitant to read her book (2013) is because I know I'll still have questions but I probably will read it, anyway and if / when I do, I'll share whatever is news to me.

 

[GrandmaBear]

He wasn't wearing any as he had wet himself and granny washed them and hung them up to dry apparently.

?? Why is it I don't recall that either? I must have missed a chunk somewhere. While my recall isn't always great, these days, usually when I do hear something, I go oh yeah, that's right, I forgot that because when I hear it, I do recall it. This I don't recall for some reason.

 

[Tresir]

?? Why is it I don't recall that either? I must have missed a chunk somewhere. While my recall isn't always great, these days, usually when I do hear something, I go oh yeah, that's right, I forgot that because when I hear it, I do recall it. This I don't recall for some reason.

I read it on this thread. Post numbers 80 and 99.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I read it on this thread. Post numbers 80 and 99.

Thank you. I went back and looked. I don't see that I hit any likes and back when I always hit likes if I read something so maybe I wasn't on or something, there were some periods of time I wasn't. I know I followed it at that stupid other place. And have on here just apparently not then. I guess. I'd have to read all to be sure.

Hmm. Thoughts are churning reading those posts. Not just about the shorts. Also reading the wanting to demolish the farmhouse extension, the excavator guy, who I've always known of, but read a bit again on now. Sure a long time for a witness to wait to come forward.

Not that i'm coming up with anything new, just thinking on it all.

 

[Tresir]

y

Thank you. I went back and looked. I don't see that I hit any likes and back when I always hit likes if I read something so maybe I wasn't on or something, there were some periods of time I wasn't. I know I followed it at that stupid other place. And have on here just apparently not then. I guess. I'd have to read all to be sure.

Hmm. Thoughts are churning reading those posts. Not just about the shorts. Also reading the wanting to demolish the farmhouse extension, the excavator guy, who I've always known of, but read a bit again on now. Sure a long time for a witness to wait to come forward.

Not that i'm coming up with anything new, just thinking on it all.

He turned up after Ben had gone missing and asked the Grandfather where in the wall he wanted the door opening. The grandmother had convinced herself that Ben had gone with her son on his bike at that point. She didnt find out till she saw him later that Ben was not with him.

 

[GrandmaBear]

y

He turned up after Ben had gone missing and asked the Grandfather where in the wall he wanted the door opening. The grandmother had convinced herself that Ben had gone with her son on his bike at that point. She didnt find out till she saw him later that Ben was not with him.

I'm talking about the witness who reported about the excavator guy in later years. I think you're talking about the excavator guy no? Sorry, I probably wasn't clear. A fair amount of info in those two posts. I probably jumbled it in my post.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Another one.

Mum's frantic wait for DNA result on man claiming to be son missing for 35 years

Kerry Needham has an 'anxious wait' for a DNA test to be carried on an adopted man from America. She has been sent photographs and was surprised by the family resemblance.

www.mirror.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE: Ben Needham mum's frantic wait for DNA results on man claiming to be missing son​

The mum of missing Ben Needham is "nervously" waiting for a DNA test on a man who suspects he could be her son, after seeing his photos which bear an ‘uncanny’ resemblance to her family.

She says the images sent to her also look like her missing son’s age progression image. Ben, from Sheffield, disappeared on the Greek island of Kos on July 24, 1991, aged 21 months. His family, including Kerry's parents and two brothers, had moved to Kos earlier in the year to start a new life.


Despite one of the longest missing person investigations in British history - including two excavations at the farmhouse where he was last seen - his whereabouts remain unknown. Recently police in the US have been investigating claims of a sighting, amid claims he could have been illegally adopted but their investigation had stalled.

Illegal adoption in the US during the 1980s and 1990s has been connected to international child trafficking scandals. Private adoption agencies and lawyers often bypassed regulations, matching stolen children with American parents.

Now Kerry has been contacted by a woman claiming her boyfriend could be one of those illegally adopted children. She wrote to Kerry, saying her adopted boyfriend ‘looks exactly like this future drawing’ and explained he was 'supposedly adopted in 1993.'

“He has always had questions about his adoption and his adopted parents.” She claimed they wouldn't give him his birth certificate and acted “insane” when he asked.

“I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, especially Kerry’s, but I feel like he is Ben. He is really hoping so as well…There are too many coincidences to ignore this.”

 

[Guess Who]

Another one.

Mum's frantic wait for DNA result on man claiming to be son missing for 35 years

Kerry Needham has an 'anxious wait' for a DNA test to be carried on an adopted man from America. She has been sent photographs and was surprised by the family resemblance.

www.mirror.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE: Ben Needham mum's frantic wait for DNA results on man claiming to be missing son​

The mum of missing Ben Needham is "nervously" waiting for a DNA test on a man who suspects he could be her son, after seeing his photos which bear an ‘uncanny’ resemblance to her family.

She says the images sent to her also look like her missing son’s age progression image. Ben, from Sheffield, disappeared on the Greek island of Kos on July 24, 1991, aged 21 months. His family, including Kerry's parents and two brothers, had moved to Kos earlier in the year to start a new life.


Despite one of the longest missing person investigations in British history - including two excavations at the farmhouse where he was last seen - his whereabouts remain unknown. Recently police in the US have been investigating claims of a sighting, amid claims he could have been illegally adopted but their investigation had stalled.

Illegal adoption in the US during the 1980s and 1990s has been connected to international child trafficking scandals. Private adoption agencies and lawyers often bypassed regulations, matching stolen children with American parents.

Now Kerry has been contacted by a woman claiming her boyfriend could be one of those illegally adopted children. She wrote to Kerry, saying her adopted boyfriend ‘looks exactly like this future drawing’ and explained he was 'supposedly adopted in 1993.'

“He has always had questions about his adoption and his adopted parents.” She claimed they wouldn't give him his birth certificate and acted “insane” when he asked.

“I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, especially Kerry’s, but I feel like he is Ben. He is really hoping so as well…There are too many coincidences to ignore this.”

How has this guy gotten this far in life without a birth certificate? Does he work? Has he been in school? Does he have a driver's license? All of those things require proof of identification.

 

[Kimster]

How has this guy gotten this far in life without a birth certificate? Does he work? Has he been in school? Does he have a driver's license? All of those things require proof of identification.

That’s always my first question in these circumstances.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mum of missing boy 'in tears' as UK police stop investigation

The 21-month-old baby disappeared on the Greek island of Kos

www.walesonline.co.uk

Mum of Ben Needham 'in tears' as UK police will no longer investigate tot's disappearance​

The mother of Ben Needham broke down in tears as she revealed South Yorkshire Police will no longer investigate her son's disappearance. Kerry Needham, 51, was “heartbroken and sobbing” after she was told the major crimes unit at would not be responsible for any investigations into the child's disappearance.

According to The Mirror, authorities said it is instead the responsibility of the Greek police to undertake any future inquiries. The reason given was a lack of 'time' and 'resources'.

“This is devastating news. The case will now fall solely to the Greek authorities. If this happens, I feel like I may as well give up the search for Ben because the Greek police have only ever wanted this case to go away,” the frustrated mum told The Mirror, breaking down in tears.

The news was broken to Kerry during a video call by her family liaison officer, she explained.

South Yorkshire Police told The Mirror: "We remain ready to support Greek authorities should any new evidence come to light, and we remain committed to supporting Kerry. However, after 35 years, we must ensure all of the appropriate routes are in place and remain fit for purpose."

But Kerry told us: "For nearly 35 years, we have fought every single day to keep Ben's case alive, to search for answers, and to make sure he is never forgotten. We believe there are still avenues to explore. This feels like a devastating step backwards."

Family promise to never give up search for missing Ben Needham after 35 years

Family still hope they will find answers

www.thestar.co.uk

Family promise to never give up search for missing Sheffield boy Ben Needham after 35 year investigation​

For 35 years a Sheffield mum has been desperately searching for answers about what happened to her missing child - and she has vowed to never give up fighting to discover the truth.


Over the course of the subsequent three decades, the young boy’s family has been following every possible lead in a desperate search to discover what truly happened during that fateful trip to Greece.

A number of theories were posited over the years, however the reality remains shrouded in mystery.


“We believed there were still avenues to explore, witnesses to revisit, and opportunities for British and Greek authorities to continue working together.

“To now be told that active involvement from the Major Crime Unit is ending feels like a devastating step backwards.”

She added: “No parent should ever have to stop searching for their child, and I never will.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to support our family and keep hope alive for Ben Needham.”

 

[Kimster]

If they aren't going to investigate it anymore, can they give their files to the family?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Ben Needham's mum to hire detective to solve son's disappearance

Ms Needham has spent every day since Ben's disappearance in 1991 pursuing fresh leads in the hope of finding answers about what happened to her son.

www.dailymail.com

'Does nobody care?': Ben Needham's mother says she will now hire a private investigator in desperate bid to solve one of Britain's longest-running missing person mysteries after UK police dropped the case​

When British toddler Ben Needham vanished from the Greek island of Kos almost 35 years ago, his mother Kerry could not have imagined just how enduring the search to find him would be.

Now 53, Ms Needham has spent every day since Ben's disappearance in 1991 pursuing fresh leads, supporting ongoing inquiries and travelling across Europe in the hope of finding answers about what happened to her son, who would now be 36.

But last month, she was dealt a fresh blow after being informed South Yorkshire Police's (SYP) Major Crime Unit would no longer be responsible for investigating Ben's disappearance after 14 years.

Describing the development as 'devastating', Ms Needham, who now lives in Turkey, said she feels she has been left with little option but to continue the search herself.


Determined not to let the case go cold, Ms Needham has revealed plans to hire a private investigator in Greece, believing it may represent the best remaining chance of uncovering the truth almost four decades on.

However, pursuing the new line of inquiry comes at a considerable financial cost, prompting Ms Needham to launch a GoFundMe appeal to help fund the investigation.

She spoke exclusively to the Mail about her disappointment at what she sees as a lack of urgency from British police regarding Ben's disappearance - but how a private detective might finally bring an almost four-decade-long mystery to a close.

Ms Needham said: 'It makes you really think does nobody care? This is a missing person. Yes, it's been a long time.

'But when a report from a police officer or a detective inspector lands on your desk and it's a missing person, someone should pick that up and say, "Wow, that's urgent."

'That needs to be done now. But obviously it's not, and you feel like you're banging your head against the brick wall sometimes.'

She said that if a private investigator were to be engaged with the case, they could meticulously review all inquiries and reports into her son's disappearance.

Ms Needham said: 'I think if a private investigator got involved and was allowed to take the case files and review them from the very beginning, they will see that there were lots of mistakes made, and potential cover-ups.

'A PI can go through the files with a fine-tooth comb as they have nothing to hide.

'There are also lots of inconsistencies within people's original statements, and a PI can and interview all these people, speaking to them face to face.

'I believe that a PI will delve into these things even more than a police officer can.'

Ms Needham explained that her decision to seek the help of a private investigator followed a conversation with a family liaison officer, who she claims told her South Yorkshire Police would no longer be taking an active role in Ben's case.

Instead, Greek police would solely be pursuing lines of inquiry.


South Yorkshire Police has maintained that it will remain involved with Ben's case - despite the call Ms Needham received.

A spokesperson for the force said it was not stepping back fully, but rather reinforced that its role is to act as a 'conduit for information sharing' between UK authorities, Interpol and the Greek authorities.

They said: 'The investigation itself is led by the Greek authorities.

'Our resource allocation has not changed, as we continue to have a designated family liaison officer and detective inspector as the points of contacts for all of the relevant agencies and Ben's family.

'The Greek investigation is open and we believe it will remain open until a conclusion is reached. Our involvement in support of the investigation has not changed.'

The force emphasised that they are 'committed' to supporting Ben's family, and said they are 'deeply sorry for any confusion this review may have caused.'