The NSW Government has announced a $1 million reward for information that leads to the recovery of William Tyrrell, NSW Police say.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin, were joined by NSW Premier Mike Baird, to announce the landmark reward tomorrow, to coincide with the second anniversary of William’s disappearance.
About 10.30am on Friday 12 September 2014, William, then aged three, was playing in the yard of his grandmother’s home on Benaroon Drive, Kendall, when he disappeared.
Within a few short hours, hundreds of local residents and emergency service workers combined to search the rural township, looking in forests, creeks and paddocks for the boy.
The speed and coordination of that local search allowed police to form the view very quickly that William had been kidnapped.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad established Strike Force Rosann to investigate the suspected kidnapping. They are being assisted by investigators from across NSW.
Commissioner Scipione welcomed the reward and thanked the NSW Government for their ongoing support and assistance to police investigations.
"Today’s announcement demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to providing the NSW Police Force with everything that might be required to bring answers to families impacted by unsolved crimes," the Commissioner said.
"This is a unique reward, it does not require the charge and conviction of any person(s), it relates to the recovery of William Tyrrell.
"By offering a reward at this point in the investigation, we are appealing directly to those who know something but have not previously been inclined to assist.
"If you know something, there are now a million reasons to come forward.
"I have complete faith in the Strike Force Rosann team, and urge those who know what happened to William to get in touch with police now; don’t wait for us to come to you," the Commissioner said.
Strike Force Rosann is one of the largest investigations ever undertaken by the NSW Police Force, and involves a team of full time investigators and analysts. In addition, they regularly consult with the NSW Police Force’s Senior Forensic Psychologist.
They are assisted by hundreds of detectives from around the state, who were assigned more than 150 investigative packages.
"To put the past two years into perspective, I can tell you police have received almost 3000 calls through Crime Stoppers.
