Human blood has reportedly been found on a toy car and sandal believed to have belonged to toddler Ben Needham, who disappeared on the Greek island of Kos 26 years ago.
British media report, that the South Yorkshire police said the development “corroborates and strengthens” the theory Ben died in an accident on July 24 1991 at his grandparents’ farmhouse where he had been staying.
Last October, South Yorkshire police formally ended an extensive search of the site, and a second site 750 meters away, saying they believe the toddler may have been crushed by a digger working on the renovation.
Ben’s body has never been found although other items – thought to be a toy car and sandal belonging to the 21-month-old – are being tested for his DNA after being recovered previously.
Scientists said on Monday they had found human blood samples on the items but that further testing was required to link them directly to Ben.
The sandal was reportedly found in 2012 at the site where Konstantinos “Dino” Barkas was operating a digger, while the car was discovered last year at another spot. Barkas is believed to have died from stomach cancer in 2015.
But Ben’s mother, Kerry Needham, said the discovery was evidence of a “massive cover-up” and that her son’s body must have been moved after his death: “It shows more of a conspiracy because they didn’t find Ben’s body,” she told the Daily Mirror.
“That proves it to me without doubt they obviously moved him and buried him and, for whatever reason, dug him up. There’s no other explanation.”
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