Every morning for seven years, the small New South Wales community of Kendall has woken up with fresh hope that this will be the day the precious little boy in the Spider-Man suit will finally be found safe and sound.
Shortly before 10.30am on September 12, 2014, 10km from the village, a three-year-old boy with wide hazel eyes named William Tyrrell was happily playing in his foster grandmother’s garden, when suddenly he went missing.
Over the next five hours, local volunteers joined forces with emergency services to comb through scrubland, creeks and paddocks, desperate for a clue to where the little boy might be hiding.
He became the town’s poster child for all the wrong reasons. As his missing-persons flyer beamed across Australia, Kendall residents wondered if their tiny town would ever be the same.
“It’s been incredibly harrowing for the entire community – he simply disappeared into thin air,” a local mum-of-two tells Woman’s Day. “We’ve never given up hope. Even after seven years, we prayed he would come home like little Cleo Smith did.”
Indeed, just 18 days after the little girl’s safe return home after vanishing from a campsite in Western Australia, shock new developments were being made almost hourly as forensic investigators swarmed the property where William was last seen.
This story is from the November 29, 2021 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 29, 2021 edition of Woman’s Day Magazine NZ.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
JUDGE JAY-JAY
More FM radio diva Jay-Jay Feeney delivers her verdict on your biggest dilemmas
JON'S JOURNEY - BEING MAORI & DEAF MADE ME A TARGET
The Auckland sign language tutor has overcome enormous challenges
'WE WENT ON THE RUN FROM RUSSIA!'
Now safe in New Zealand, Nick and his family hid in the outback for three years
DEFYING THE ODDS MADDIS ON'S MILESTONE BIRTHDAY
One of the tiniest babies born in New Zealand is about to turn 10!
Farmer And rew & Jess' big day WE'RE STILL ON CLOUD 9!
The reality stars say 'I do' in a perfect country ceremony
Gordon Ramsays 'THIS IS THE REAL ME'
The fiery celebrity chef has cooked up a sizzling new reality show
KIWI STAR LOREN - 'I OWE MY LIFE TO MY SISTER'
The actress reveals why she seemingly disappeared after her starring role in Eagle Vs Shark
Lee & Luke's - RECIPE FOR LOVE
The Cantabrian contestants reveal the secrets of their incredibly strong mother-son bond
JEN GARNER FINALLY TELLS - MY SIDE OF THE STORY!
The actress breaks her silence at last on her relationship with ex-husband Ben Affleck
JESS BREAKOUT ROLE - 'KIWIS DON'T REALLY CARE IF YOU'RE FAMOUS'
The Palmerston North actress is in demand after her part in Netflix hit 3 Body Problem