Excavations will begin next week in search of Ben Needham, who disappeared while on holiday with his mother and grandparents on 24 July 1991.
Ever since the day her little boy vanished, Kerry Needham has campaigned tirelessly for police to continue investigating Ben’s disappearance, in hope that he is still alive.
However, police now fear Ben could have been killed whilst on the Greek island of Kos, where his grandparents were renovating a farmhouse.
Last week South Yorkshire police told Kerry to “prepare for the worst” as a new witness came forward claiming digger driver Kostantinos Barkas may have been responsible for Ben’s death.
It was also revealed that the son of Konstantinos – known as Dino – once took a DNA test to prove he was not Ben.
The Mirror previously reported that the police will soon be excavating two new areas of land, one being a two-and-a-half acre plot beside the farmhouse where Ben was last seen.
The owner of the plot, Stefano Troumouhis, told the paper that he doesn’t think they will find Ben, and that he also believes Dino didn’t have “anything to do” with Ben’s disappearance.
Speaking to Closer, Ben’s sister Leighanna – who was born three years after Ben vanished – said the family is now in “limbo” waiting for a call that “could change [their] whole lives”.
In a statement from the police, they revealed the new lines of inquiry have been “explored and investigated over the last three months” and would result in digs at two sites in Kos.
“It is anticipated the first dig will take the team 10 to 12 days to complete,” said the police statement.
“A cordon will be in place at the scene to protect the forensic work [...] to allow the team of officers to get on with the important task at hand.
“Please be aware that it is entirely expected that the team will regularly come across bones in the ground as the site is former farmland. Any unusual items recovered will be subject to forensic testing.”
We will bring you more on this story as it develops.
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