🔗 Share this article Animal Remains Found in Search for Girl Who Disappeared Fifty-Five Years Ago A childhood photo of Cheryl Grimmer and her brother near a pool The "area of interest" identified in a volunteer-led investigation for the remains of a British child who vanished in Australia 55 years ago has turned out to be a mistaken lead, New South Wales Police said. A volunteer team who used cadaver detection dogs in the quest for the missing child had believed their discovery would mark a breakthrough in the investigation, which has remained a mystery since she disappeared in the year 1970, when she was three. But skeletal fragments that were found in the area belong to an non-human creature, law enforcement stated in response to questions, adding that the operation had "concluded." Authorities believe the young girl, who had emigrated from Bristol with her relatives, was abducted from a coastal area in the city in January 1970. Latest Investigation Steps Thursday's search happened in a local suburb, on a tiny section of forest referenced in a admission made by a young male. In 2019, a court case of the accused, known only by a alias, the pseudonym, who'd been indicted with the crimes against Cheryl, collapsed. The individual, in his sixties then, had rejected any involvement. Prosecutors later withdrew accusations against him as a judge excluded the statement he made as a juvenile. Ongoing Mystery Police have conducted numerous searches in the years since she went missing, but have found limited leads as to what happened to her. NSW authorities have offered a one million Australian dollar incentive for tips on the case of Cheryl's disappearance and presumed death. Relatives' Views Cheryl's brother Ricki Nash, sixty-two, has openly discussed what he believes are errors in the police investigation going back to the time she disappeared. He was seven then. He final sighting of his sister in the changing rooms at Fairy Meadow on the date she vanished. Community Action A petition asking the state parliament to set up an inquiry into missing persons investigations handled by NSW Police, such as this one, collected more than 10,000 signatures this season. It was discussed in the legislature, but in a letter responding to those who signed, officials made no commitment to holding an inquiry.