Kerry Needham, the mother of missing British toddler Ben Needham, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for a private investigator to pursue new leads in her son's disappearance. The appeal comes after South Yorkshire Police informed her that they would no longer be actively investigating the case, which will now be handled by Greek authorities.
New Hope After Three Decades
Ben Needham was 21 months old when he vanished from the island of Kos in 1991. For over 30 years, Kerry has lived with the uncertainty of not knowing what happened to her son. Now, she says new information suggests Ben may have been taken and illegally adopted in the early 1990s. 'For the first time in a long time, I feel a real sense of hope,' she stated. The GoFundMe aims to raise £10,000 to cover travel, legal experts, investigators, and DNA testing.
Police Statement
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that after 35 years, they are stepping back but remain ready to support Greek authorities if new evidence emerges. 'We remain committed to supporting Kerry, but we must ensure all appropriate routes are fit for purpose,' a spokesperson said. Any new information from England will be shared with Greece via Interpol.
Possible Trafficking to the US
Kerry believes her son may have been trafficked to the United States, specifically the New York area. She recently released an age-progression image showing what Ben might look like as a man. 'We need to move on from sharing baby pictures. We're looking for a man,' she urged. The image has been circulated in the US in hopes of generating new leads.
Despite extensive searches, including two excavations at the farmhouse where Ben was last seen, his whereabouts remain unknown. South Yorkshire Police had previously theorized that Ben died in a digger accident, but no evidence was found. Kerry continues to appeal for donations and shares, saying, 'Please help me bring my son home, or finally understand what happened to him.'
