DNA found on toy car in Ben Needham search is not his
The Sheffield toddler went missing 27 years ago on Kos
Last updated 30th Nov 2018
DNA found in the search for missing Sheffield toddler Ben Needham does not belong to him, tests have shown.
The 21 month old went missing on the Greek island of Kos back in 1991 - police think he was accidently killed in an incident with a digger.
But a toy car found in fresh searches there two years ago has been tested after a weak DNA sample was found on it and the results show it doesn't belong to him.
"Our 27 tears of slow torture goes on," his mum Kerry told The Mirror.
"“If that blood is not Ben’s – then who does it belong to? It’s devastating. We had built ourselves up thinking it would be a positive result and would prove Ben had died.
"“It would have given us closure and we would have been able to start the grieving process.
“When it came back negative it was a shock. I don’t know what to think now. Is Ben dead or is he still alive?”
Police are sticking with their theory of what happened on the day he went missing.
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Jon Cousins, said:
"The DNA was not a match to Ben or his family, however, I would like to reiterate that despite this stage of forensic examination and the result, it is still my professional belief based on all the evidence and fa cts gathered during this investigation to date, that Ben died as a result of a tragic incident at the farmhouse in Kos, involving heavy machinery on that day.
"We will continue to support Ben’s family and the Greek authorities, who retain primacy of this investigation, should any further information come to light. We will also consider any opportunity to continue the examination of all the items recovered."