Kerry Needham, the mother of missing Ben Needham, has expressed her disbelief in the police theory that her son died in a digger accident during a recent trip to Kos. On the 35th anniversary of Ben’s disappearance, Kerry visited the farmhouse where he went missing, accompanied by her mother and brother. Despite the emotional turmoil of revisiting the site, Kerry stated that the experience reinforced her belief that Ben was abducted.
Ben disappeared on July 24, 1991, while playing near a farmhouse his grandfather was renovating on the Greek island of Kos. Although South Yorkshire Police conducted two searches of the area suspecting a digger accident, no evidence supporting this theory has been found. Kerry raised doubts about the plausibility of the accident scenario, emphasizing the challenges Ben would have faced navigating the terrain in hot weather with his sandals.
Furthermore, Kerry highlighted discrepancies in the evidence, pointing out that while a toy car resembling Ben’s toys was discovered with decomposed blood inside, the DNA did not match Ben’s. She also noted that blood found around the farmhouse did not belong to Ben. The police had implicated Konstantinos Barkas, the digger driver who passed away in 2015, in the accident, but his widow denied any involvement and mentioned seeing a suspicious car near the farmhouse on the day Ben disappeared.
Kerry is now urging the UK government and the new Prime Minister to intervene in the case. She seeks assistance in meeting with the Greek prosecutor and allowing British officers to interview witnesses. Kerry’s determination to uncover the truth was further fueled by a recent meeting with Minister for Europe, Stephen Doughty, where she expressed her long-standing struggle for support in the search for Ben.
In efforts to raise awareness about Ben internationally, Kerry participated in a documentary titled ‘Ben Needham: Lost in Paradise,’ set to air on Disney Plus. She shared her emotional journey during the filming, emphasizing her unwavering commitment to finding answers about Ben’s disappearance. Despite the challenges she has faced over the years, Kerry remains resolute in her quest for justice and closure, appealing to the public, especially the younger generation, to come forward with any information that could shed light on Ben’s whereabouts.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard commended Kerry’s relentless pursuit of the truth and pledged ongoing support in her quest for answers. The family’s unwavering determination and the community’s solidarity highlight the urgency of resolving the mystery surrounding Ben’s disappearance, emphasizing the importance of continued efforts to seek justice for Ben Needham.
