THE renewed search for William Tyrrell's remains at Kendall is preparing to enter its fifth week.
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Search teams have spent the past 26 days scouring the bush for any signs of the missing three-year-old who disappeared from his late foster grandmother's home on Benaroon Drive seven years ago.
One of the main focus areas of the renewed search is a patch of bushland on the corner of Cobb and Co Rd, just one kilometre from where William was last seen in 2014.
This search site has now expanded to the opposite side of Batar Creek Rd, with NSW RFS volunteers assisting police in clearing dense bushland. Markers have also been placed to section off the areas to be searched.
A stretch of bushland between Batar Creek Rd and Benaroon Drive has also been cleared this week.
Breaks in the weather over the past few days have no doubt been a welcome site for the search team. However, the recent wet weather has left the ground muddy, making search conditions arduous.
The creek that runs through the search site has also been drained this week due to the wet weather.
A faded red piece of fabric was found in the muddy creek bed on Monday (December 6) and has been sent away to be forensically examined.
The search team has found a number of pieces of material during the search which have all been sent away for testing. It is not yet known whether any of the pieces of material are related to the case.
Geomorphologist Jon Olley told the Daily Telegraph that bones of a child would likely break down in the soil that is currently being searched.
"The one thing we have going in our favour is the fact that (investigators) believe he was in a polyester suit. That doesn't break down and it's very resistant to actually fading as well," he said.
"There possibly would be bones, but given the level of bioactivity here, and the amount of humic acids that are in the soils, that would actually help break them down over time."
At this stage the search is expected to last at least another two weeks.
"The difficulty is getting ourselves back to seven years ago to make sure that we don't miss anything," NSW Police State Crime Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, told 2GB last week.
"Anything found in these areas is then processed through Newcastle and then it's sent to the Forensic and Analytical Science Service in Sydney.
"They are working around the clock to process anything that comes from the scene."
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
- Police "very happy" with progress in the search for William Tyrrell
- Search for William Tyrrell to stretch beyond three weeks
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