Police hunting for Ben Needham discover ancient burial site – but also find evidence of ‘decomposition’ in cesspit
POLICE hunting for missing toddler Ben Needham have discovered several ancient graves after evidence of "decomposition" was found at the search site in the Greek island of Kos.
As many a five bodies have been found in the 1,500-year-old burial ground in the surroundings of the farmhouse where the tot vanished.
Ben vanished from the island in 1991 while on holiday with his family.
The investigation into his disappearance will continue despite the discovery of the graves.
Search teams have already painstakingly unearthed a septic tank and experts continue to examine decomposition.
Decomposition was found at four sites, with one - found in the cesspit - still remaining of interest.
Tests from other areas revealed the decomposed remains of a dog, a bat and human waste.
Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said: "There is another area of decomposition that has not been ruled out yet and that is what we are working on.
"The scientists have been unable to determine what it is."
Experts cannot rule out that the decomposed material found in the remaining area is human.
Police are also interested in a septic tank at the site.
DI Cousins has said he is pleased with the progress of the investigation.
Cops have also been looking for fragments of clothes Ben could have been wearing that day and analysing a picture of a fig tree planted after his disappearance.
Masses of soil were excavated from where police believe Ben may have been buried.
Experts were working through the soil by hand, in search for anything that may lead them to what happened to Ben.
The digger operator Konstantinos Barkas, who has since died of stomach cancer, told a man from Kos Ben died in an accident and he covered the body up.
Ben was born 29 October 1989 in Sheffield and disappeared on 24 July 1991.
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He had been on holiday with his family on the Greek Island of Kos, but despite numerous investigations and an array of sightings, no trace of him has ever been found.
The missing lad’s mum, Kerry Needham, now 43, has never stopped looking for her little boy, who would now be 26.
On the day of his disappearance little Ben was being looked after by his grandparents while mum Kerry went to work at a local hotel.
Ben had been coming in and out of the home (a farmhouse that was being renovated by the family) when, at around 2.30pm, it was discovered he was gone.
He was never found and police have now warned Kerry to prepare for the fact her son may have been crushed by a digger.
Ben’s heartbroken mum has told how her life has been on hold since her son went missing.
She spoke to Good Morning Britain about the new claims, saying: “He could have ended this 25 years ago. I could have grieved.
“You never forget your child but at least I would have known where he was. I could have done something with my life.
“Instead I’ve had a life on hold without being able to do anything or focus on anything. I’m living this nightmare – but it could have been ended 25 years ago.
“I could have probably forgiven that person back then. But now, no.”
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