Mother Appeals to Police to Investigate Potential Match for Missing Son Found in Germany
In a heartfelt plea, the mother of a toddler who disappeared in Greece over three decades ago is urging authorities to examine a recent discovery. The young child, Ben Needham, went missing from his grandparents’ farmhouse on the Greek island of Kos in 1991 when he was just 21 months old.
British authorities had theorized that Ben met a tragic accident involving a digger driver near the farmhouse. However, as no trace of his remains was ever found, questions surrounding his fate have persisted. Now, his determined mother, Kerry Needham, 51, has brought attention to an Interpol appeal to identify a child’s body found in the River Danube, Germany, according to The Mirror.
Kerry stated, “I am hopeful that British police will diligently explore this lead and establish contact with their German counterparts to delve deeper into this matter. We must thoroughly investigate and eliminate this possibility.” She has maintained her belief that her son is still alive.
Recently, Interpol shared a reconstruction of the child discovered in Germany. Standing at a height of 3 feet 6 inches and featuring brown hair, this young boy’s body had been wrapped in foil and weighed down with a flagstone, raising concerns about possible trafficking.
Reflecting on the situation, Kerry shared, “The resemblance in the reconstruction to Ben is striking. I was unaware of the prevalence and extent of child trafficking, which remains a grave issue even today. I spoke to a man who was trafficked decades ago from Greece; regrettably, this practice seems to persist, albeit discreetly.”
More than thirty years ago, Ben disappeared while playing at his grandparents’ farmhouse. Kerry, then a new resident of Kos, had entrusted her son to her grandparents’ care while she went to work. Tragically, this would be the last time she saw him.
Ben’s family initially believed he had wandered off, or perhaps her teenage brother had taken him for a ride on his moped. Yet, as time passed, the search for Ben expanded, yielding no results. Despite efforts by the police to excavate the farmhouse area, no remains were discovered. A prevailing theory suggested Ben’s accidental death beneath a digger driven by Konstantinos “Dino” Barkas, who has since passed away.
South Yorkshire Police had previously dispatched teams to Kos twice. The most recent instance occurred after a witness came forward, claiming that Barkas had confessed to causing Ben’s demise. As Kerry’s pursuit of answers continues, the tale of Ben’s vanishing remains a poignant reminder of a mother’s unwavering love and determination.