A private search for evidence with regard to the disappearance of two girls during a football match in Adelaide Oval started more than half a century ago in regional South Australia.
Joanne Ratcliffe, 11, and Kirste Gordon, 4, were last seen alive on August 25, 1973, when they left their families to walk to the toilets of the oval.
They never returned and their suspected kidnapping and murder remain one of the most harrowing cold things in the country.
Since then there have been several indications, including reports that a man was seen who took two young girls from the oval.
Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon were missing in August 1973 at Adelaide Oval. ((To the police))
The police searched various sites important in the middle north of the state about ten years ago, but nothing was discovered.
This weekend’s private search, which takes place in the same environment as the previous one, is organized by journalist Bryan Littlely, who is co-founder-with Joanne Ratcliffe’s sister Suzie-van The Awareness Group of missing persons, allows a light.
He said there was evidence to suggest that the two girls were brought to Yatina and were killed by a hut, and that their bodies were placed in barrels and were left somewhere in Pekina near Orroroo.
“We follow that to see if there are effects or items that connect to that story,”
he said.
The four -year -old Kirste Gordon disappeared from Adelaide Oval almost 52 years ago. ((ABC News: Nicola Gage))
The focus of the current search is at various locations, including a private ownership north of Yatina, as well as a fence line and a paddock.
Littly said that a team of about half a dozen people, including geologists, had traveled to the area and that they were supported by various locals and cadaver dogs.
“If there is something, they have a very, very good chance to pick it up,” he said.
“We have an excavator there and we will drive out a different area and look for that with hand tools.
“We are not the conviction that we would find human remains ourselves, but we might find something else.”
An excavator and geologists will be involved in the search. ((Delivered: Bryan Littly))
Mr Littlely said that the search would shift on Sunday for the Pekina reservoir, and that if remains were found, it was more likely that they would be discovered near that site.
In 2014, police and forensic teams inspected various sites in Yatina, including two wells.
Police are not convinced
On Monday, SA -Politie Commissioner Grant Stevens said that the armed forces did not believe that there was new evidence that further official searches at the relevant locations would force.
“We searched that location earlier and we are not currently believing that there is any evidence that a further investigation with regard to those circumstances justifies,” he said.
The police searched the area more than ten years ago. ((To the police))
Littlely said he remained hopeful seekers, would bring important evidence to light and that he wanted to keep a promise he made to the family of Joanne Ratcliffe, including her mother, who died a few years ago.
“Early in the piece I made Kath Ratcliffe a promise that I would take her girl home and I want to keep that promise,”
he said.
Suzie Ratcliffe with a photo of her missing sister. ((Facebook))
Suzie Ratcliffe has expressed support for the new search and said earlier this week that it was time to “let these girls rest”.
“We still hope very much for answers and still hope to hope to bring the girls home,” she said.
“I always say that I don’t get my hope … but you can’t help it, but feel hopeful.“
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