UPDATE: Police have launched a new search for the remains of missing three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer, who vanished from Wollongong, NSW, over fifty years ago. This latest development comes after a renewed interest in a confession made in 1971, but unfortunately, no significant breakthroughs have been reported.
Early on Friday, October 27, 2023, authorities focused their efforts on a rugged section of bushland near Fairy Meadow Beach, where Cheryl was last seen alive. This search marks the first time police have explored this area, previously mentioned in a confession by a man identified only by the codename Mercury. The confession was dismissed decades ago as unreliable, and the site went unexamined at that time.
The investigation gained momentum in 2016 when Detective Senior Constable Frank Sanvitale uncovered the long-forgotten confession. A year later, charges were brought against the man for Cheryl’s murder. However, by 2018, the case collapsed after the Supreme Court ruled the confession inadmissible, leaving many questions unanswered.
On Thursday, October 26, 2023, police declared the site an “area of interest” once again, prompting the search team to arrive at approximately 11:30 AM with specially trained cadaver dogs. Tragically, by the afternoon, police confirmed the search concluded without the hoped-for discovery.
“Bones were located and photographed within the search area. Following expert advice, the bones were confirmed to belong to an animal,” a police statement clarified. The investigation into Cheryl Grimmer’s abduction and suspected murder remains active, led by the NSW Police Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Unit.
The search highlights the ongoing mystery surrounding Cheryl’s disappearance, which has haunted the community for over five decades. Authorities are still offering a $1 million reward for any information that could lead to a resolution. Anyone with relevant details is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
As the investigation continues, the community remains hopeful that answers will finally emerge in this long-standing and heartbreaking case. Keep an eye on this developing story as more updates are expected soon.
