A recent volunteer-led search for the remains of Cheryl Grimmer, a British girl who vanished in Australia 55 years ago, has ended in disappointment. New South Wales Police confirmed that the ‘area of interest’ flagged during the search turned out to be a false alarm. The search, conducted in Balgownie, involved cadaver detection dogs and was based on a confession made by a teenage boy. However, bones discovered in the area were identified as belonging to an animal, bringing the operation to a close. Cheryl Grimmer, who emigrated from Bristol with her family, disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong in January 1970 at the age of three. Authorities suspect she was abducted and murdered, but the case has remained unsolved despite numerous investigations. In 2019, a trial of a suspect, known by the codename Mercury, collapsed after a judge disallowed his confession made as a minor. Prosecutors subsequently dropped the charges. Cheryl’s brother, Ricki Nash, has publicly criticized the police investigation, citing errors dating back to the day she vanished. A petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into missing persons cases, including Cheryl’s, garnered over 10,000 signatures but has yet to result in any commitment from state authorities. A A$1 million reward remains on offer for information leading to a resolution in the case.