STRIKE Force Rosann will continue the search for the remains of missing boy William Tyrrell over the weekend following the discovery of a potential piece of evidence on Friday (November 19) morning.
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The potential piece of evidence was found at the search site at Cobb and Co Rd/Batar Creek Rd at Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast in the vicinity of the creek, a NSW Police spokesperson said.
What has happened so far:
- "We are looking for the remains of William Tyrrell"
- One suspect, three key search areas in renewed search for remains
- Back where it all started: garden focus of William 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
The piece of light blue cloth measuring around 8cm by 8cm has been sent away for forensic analysis to the Forensic and Analytical Science Service (FASS) in Sydney.
Test results from FASS can take up to three or four businesses days, with detectives still awaiting forensic results from further potential evidence found in soil at the same search site earlier this week.
Police were also assisted by NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers in draining the creek at the search site on Friday morning.
RFS volunteers also continue to support police in clearing trees and thick bush at the search site.
The operational support group sifting through the soil is predominately made up of officers from the Public Order Riot Squad.
There are also eight crime scene investigators on site as well as one hydrologist, one archaeologist and an anthropologist who are assisting police in the search, a NSW Police spokesperson said.
There is some concern that predictions for wet weather and storms over the weekend could hinder search efforts.
"The plan at this stage is for the search to continue regardless of the weather," a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, a concrete slab in the garage of the former home of William's foster grandmother that was scanned with ground penetrating radar technology has been deemed clear.
On Thursday, the Australian Federal Police used the specialist subterranean equipment to determine if there were any disturbances or anomalies in the soil underneath the garage.
On Friday morning police confirmed results from the slab had not furthered the investigation.
Strike Force Rosann has spent the past five days meticulously searching at three specific locations near Kendall, with a focus on the home on Benaroon Drive where William was last seen playing and a patch of bushland one kilometre away.
A NSW Police spokesperson said strike force investigators are expected to remain in the area for three weeks, with the search site at Cobb and Co Rd/Batar Creek Rd expected to expand to bushland on the opposite side of the road in the coming weeks.
