Police in Melbourne, Australia, have uncovered the remains of a toddler buried in a back garden, solving a mystery surrounding the child’s disappearance over a decade ago. The discovery was made on December 8, 2023, after officers conducted a six-hour excavation at a residence in Brookfield.
The remains, believed to belong to an 18-month-old boy, were found approximately 50 centimeters beneath the ground. The child, who lived at the property with two siblings in 2014, had not been reported missing at the time of his family’s departure, which is thought to have been overseas, possibly to Albania.
The investigation into the toddler’s disappearance was initiated earlier this year by the Melton Crime Investigation Unit, following new information that prompted a re-evaluation of the case. According to reports from 7 News, the current owner of the property was informed by police that they suspected a body might be buried just meters from their home. This revelation shocked both the resident and the local community.
In a statement regarding the find, the resident expressed disbelief: “Something like this is not supposed to happen but it’s happened 14 years ago. Something very bad. Very terrible.”
Victoria Police emphasized that the current occupants of the property have no connection to the investigation or the former residents. The police confirmed that the remains have yet to be officially identified. Reports indicate that a family member of the toddler provided a tip-off to authorities, unable to keep the information concealed any longer.
The police statement elaborated on the circumstances of the discovery: “On December 8, with assistance from the Missing Persons Squad, Australian Federal Police, Major Crime Scene Unit and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, the property was searched. A preliminary excavation of the area uncovered the yet to be formally identified human remains around 1:30 PM. The coroner has been advised, and a post-mortem will occur in due course.”
The Missing Persons Squad will now lead the ongoing investigation. There is currently no information on whether Australian officials have reached out to their Albanian counterparts, despite the existence of an extradition agreement between the two nations.
As this story develops, the focus will remain on understanding the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance and the implications for the family involved. The local community continues to grapple with the tragic discovery as investigators work to uncover more details.
