The family of Cheryl Grimmer, a toddler who went missing from Fairy Meadow beach in New South Wales, Australia, in January 1970, has expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s handling of a recent review into the case. Cheryl, who was three years old at the time, is suspected to have been abducted while her family was on vacation shortly after emigrating from the UK. Following a four-year review, the police announced that no new evidence had emerged to support a conviction.
Family members have criticized the police for not formally interviewing three potential eyewitnesses, despite having been provided their contact details. Ricki Nash, Cheryl’s brother, voiced his frustration over the investigation’s progress and emphasized that the family is reliant on police assistance to move forward. The eyewitnesses came forward after the release of a true crime podcast about Cheryl’s case, which has garnered significant attention.
One individual reported seeing a teenage boy carrying a small child from changing rooms on the beach the day Cheryl disappeared. Although he initially spoke with the police, he has not been contacted since. Former detective Damian Loone, who previously worked on the case, raised questions about the decision not to formally interview this witness, labeling the oversight as poor police work.
In addition to the man, another potential eyewitness, Kay Tutton, recalled observing a man with a distressed little girl on the beach and attempted to inform the police shortly after the incident but was not subsequently contacted. Another woman reported encountering a suspicious man near the beach days before Cheryl’s disappearance and has similarly not heard from authorities.
A petition for an inquiry into missing persons cases, including Cheryl’s, gathered over 10,000 signatures, but the state minister for police did not commit to further investigation. NSW Police stated that all received information, including from the podcast, was assessed appropriately and indicated that not all contacts warrant an interview. They recently met with members of Cheryl’s family to discuss the police review. In 2020, NSW Police offered a reward for information leading to a conviction but the family questions the effectiveness of this initiative given the lack of follow-up with witnesses.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1ed4g1q52no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss