An investigation into a disappearance led police to discover the body of a young child buried in a backyard after six hours of digging. The remains, estimated to have been there for more than ten years, were found just 50cm below the surface at a residence in Melbourne, Australia.
The child, an 18-month-old boy, is believed to have lived at the house with his siblings in 2014 before the family possibly moved back to Albania. Although the toddler was not reported missing at the time, the Melton Crime Investigation Unit initiated a probe into the incident this year.
The current homeowner was informed by authorities that a body may be buried near his property, causing shock to both him and the local community. Victoria Police clarified that the current owners have no connection to the investigation or the previous occupants of the house. While the remains are yet to be formally identified, a tip from a relative of the child led to the discovery.
In collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, the property was searched, leading to the uncovering of the human remains. The Missing Persons Squad will lead the ongoing investigation, although it is unclear if Australian authorities have contacted Albanian officials yet.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, efforts are underway to locate a missing four-year-old named Gus Lamont, who disappeared in the Australian outback over two months ago. The young boy, described as both shy and adventurous, has sparked widespread media interest and large-scale search operations.
Statistics indicate that approximately 50,000 individuals go missing in Australia annually, with the vast majority being found. Most disappearances are either intentional or the result of unintentional circumstances such as getting lost or mental health issues. The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre reports that about two-thirds of missing persons in Australia are under 18 years old.