URGENT UPDATE: Police have launched a new search for the remains of missing child Cheryl Grimmer, who disappeared over 50 years ago, in a bid to crack one of Australia’s most enduring cold cases. This fresh investigation began on Friday, October 20, 2023, in a rugged bushland area near Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong, NSW, where Cheryl was last seen alive.
Authorities are acting on a long-dormant confession from 1971, made by a man identified only as “Mercury.” This site wasn’t explored at the time due to doubts about the confession’s reliability. However, new information has prompted police to reassess the area. Police arrived at the site around 11:30 AM on Friday with a team of cadaver dogs to conduct the search.
Despite the intensive search efforts, by the afternoon, police reported no significant breakthroughs. A police statement confirmed that while some bones were found and documented within the designated area, they were determined to belong to an animal, not a human.
The investigation into Cheryl’s abduction and suspected murder continues to be an active case under the NSW Police Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Unit. The tragic disappearance of the three-year-old has left a profound impact on the community, and authorities are still seeking answers.
$1 million remains on offer as a reward for information leading to a breakthrough in the case. Police urge anyone with relevant details to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
Since her disappearance in 1970, the case has remained a painful chapter for Cheryl’s family and the wider community, igniting public interest and media coverage for decades. In recent years, Detective Senior Constable Frank Sanvitale uncovered the 1971 confession and pursued charges against the suspect, who was ultimately acquitted when the Supreme Court ruled the confession inadmissible in 2018.
As the investigation continues, the police remain committed to uncovering the truth behind Cheryl’s tragic disappearance. The local community is urged to keep the search for justice alive by sharing any information that could assist the ongoing inquiry. Authorities promise to keep the public informed as new developments arise in this heart-wrenching case.
