Witness: William Tyrrell - Episode 4: The Police Theory

Host/Author: news.com.au
Release Date: October 27, 2024
Podcast Title: Witness
Episode Title: The Police Theory | 4

Introduction

In Episode 4 of Witness: William Tyrrell, hosted by news.com.au, the narrative delves deep into the perplexing ten-year-old case of William Tyrrell, a three-year-old boy who vanished from his family home in Kendall, New South Wales, on September 12, 2014. Despite extensive investigations, William remains missing, leaving his family and the community grappling with unanswered questions. This episode focuses on unraveling the police's prevailing theory regarding William's disappearance and examines the myriad challenges faced by the detectives involved.

Meet Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw

The episode opens with an introduction to Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw, the seasoned detective leading the investigation into William Tyrrell's disappearance. With a tenure in the police force dating back to the late 1970s and experience as a detective since 1988, Laidlaw brings a wealth of knowledge to the case. His role as the investigation coordinator of the New South Wales Police Unsolved Homicide Team underscores his pivotal position in addressing cold cases.

[01:06] Dan Box: "His job today is as investigation coordinator of the New South Wales Police Unsolved Homicide team. Roughly 40 detectives whose job it is to go back over cases that others couldn't solve and solve them."

Despite his extensive experience, Laidlaw faces significant hurdles, notably a backlog of unsolved cases due to limited resources. The team struggles to triage and review numerous files, with over 829 unsolved cases on record and a substantial portion remaining unexamined.

[03:21] Dan Box: "That's why David's being questioned by this special commission of inquiry held last year to investigate the police response to specific hate crimes."

Challenges Within the Unsolved Homicide Team

A critical segment of the episode highlights the systemic issues plaguing the Unsolved Homicide Team. Laidlaw reveals a staggering backlog of cases awaiting review, attributing the delay to inadequate resources and a shortage of qualified personnel.

[03:36] Detective Chief Inspector: "You have to understand the resource implications. We don't have enough people to do them. And enough people, I mean by people who are qualified."

Further complicating matters, an internal report from 2013 uncovered significant mishandling of evidence within the New South Wales Police. The report exposed eight entire pallets of improperly stored evidence related to 22 unsolved homicide cases, raising alarms about the integrity of ongoing investigations.

[19:22] David Laidlaw: "One of the reasons to write this document was to let command know what the issue was and the problems was that we faced."

Despite acknowledgment of these issues, Laidlaw indicates that little progress has been made in rectifying the problems, leaving both past and present cases in jeopardy.

[39:46] David Laidlaw: "When you joined the unsolved homicide team in 2017, were you already aware of difficulties in locating exhibits that were appreciated within that team?"

The Police Theory: A Breakdown

The core of the episode revolves around the police's prevailing theory on William Tyrrell's disappearance. According to Detective Chief Inspector Laidlaw, the focal point of this theory implicates William's foster mother in knowing the whereabouts of his remains.

[06:15] Detective Chief Inspector: "We believe we can identify who it may be or some. The circumstances of him going missing."

The theory posits that shortly after William was last seen, his foster mother may have discovered his body and subsequently concealed it. This scenario requires a rapid and calculated response, raising questions about the plausibility of such actions given the circumstances and evidence.

Timeline Reconstruction and Analysis

Through meticulous examination, the episode reconstructs the timeline surrounding William's disappearance, challenging the feasibility of the police theory. Key moments include:

• 9:37 AM: The last known photograph of William, captured by his foster mother, shows him wearing his Spider-Man suit on the veranda, appearing happy and engaged in activities like drawing and playing dice.

  [09:36] William's Foster Mother: "And I look at that picture and I just think, minutes, minutes. And our world has changed."

• Approximately 10:00 AM: According to the police theory, within minutes of the photograph, William's foster mother found his body behind the veranda. She then decisively chose to hide his remains, a process fraught with logistical and psychological challenges, especially under the scrutiny of a silent neighborhood.

  [15:32] Dan Box: "For the police theory to be right, a lot has to happen very quickly. The foster mum has to walk here... And react quietly enough that no one in the neighborhood hears."

The episode scrutinizes the practicality of this theory, considering factors like the visibility of the alleged disposal site, the difficulty of hiding a body without detection, and the absence of immediate distress signals from the foster mother.

[24:21] Dan Box: "So look, the long and the short of that is, I think it's all irrelevant. William could put his own shoes on and his shoes had Velcro straps. So whatever the foster mother said he could have put shoes on at the time."

Questioning the Foster Mother's Credibility

A significant portion of the episode critically examines the foster mother's accounts, highlighting inconsistencies and behaviors that fuel suspicion. Notably, discrepancies in the timing of events and the deletion of critical messages from her foster father’s phone raise red flags.

[32:08] Dan Box: "What does she gain by deleting that message?"

These actions, juxtaposed with the foster mother's claims of William being an adventurous yet cautious child, intensify the scrutiny over her possible involvement in the disappearance.

Implications of Police Resource Shortages

The episode underscores how systemic resource limitations within the police force may hinder the thorough investigation of William's case and others. The inability to adequately triage and review unsolved cases not only delays justice but also potentially jeopardizes the integrity of ongoing investigations.

[42:22] Dan Box: "The record of the New South Wales Police isn't actually perfect there too. If the current police theory of what happened is William's foster mother drove his body away in her mum's grey Mazda 3, then surely it's a problem."

Conclusion and Forward Look

As the episode concludes, it emphasizes the high stakes involved in unsolved homicide investigations. The police theory presents a binary reality: either the foster mother is implicated in William's disappearance, or she has been wrongfully accused, causing irreparable damage to her reputation and familial relationships.

[44:30] Dan Box: "When you joined the unsolved homicide team in 2017, were you already aware of difficulties in locating exhibits that were appreciated within that team?"

The episode leaves listeners poised for the upcoming inquest scheduled to resume the following week, promising further revelations and potentially groundbreaking developments in the case of William Tyrrell.

[47:34] Nina: "And at that point, you've got four people hiding a secret without cracking for a decade."

Final Thoughts

Episode 4 of Witness: William Tyrrell meticulously dissects the complexities of a prolonged investigation marred by institutional challenges and scrutinized theories. By intertwining compelling interviews, critical analysis, and a reconstructed timeline, the episode paints a vivid picture of the relentless quest for truth in the face of adversity. As the inquest looms, the episode sets the stage for pivotal insights that could finally shed light on William Tyrrell's mysterious disappearance.

If you have any information about William Tyrrell’s disappearance, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or email witness@news.com.au.