New claims have emerged about a key piece of evidence that could help solve South Australia’s long-standing Beaumont Children mystery.
A vital suspect in the children’s disappearance was found to be connected to the family through marriage. This connection could clarify why the children may have felt comfortable around him.
The Adelaide property that man once owned is now being excavated again by a private group.
Today they revealed that just this week, a key new link between him and the Beaumont family has come to light.
Harry Phipps had a niece who married a cousin of Jim Beaumont, the children’s father.
There has been a persistent belief that the children were acquainted with their kidnapper. Witnesses reported seeing them playing with an unidentified man at Glenelg and willingly leaving with him.
“So we’ve been searching for that link, or that possible link, all that time, and now we’ve got one,” retired detective Bill Hayes said.
The excavation company is doing the work over the next week for free.
9News understands there was also an anonymous donation of $10,000 to help clear the site.
South Australia Police is not involved in this dig having previously said it did not believe it will succeed, but it is monitoring the outcome.
