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Missing William Tyrrell
One minute a little boy is playing outside his foster nana's house, the next minute, he's gone. How can a three year old child simply disappear?
On Friday 12 September 2014, William Tyrrell - a playful three-year-old boy dressed in a fire-engine red Spider-Man suit - disappears from a quiet street in broad daylight. It's assumed he's lost in the nearby bushland, but despite an intensive search, he's not found, and police start to suspect he's been abducted. No trace of William - not a shoe, not a hair - has ever been found, but now is not the time to surrender. How can a little boy just vanish? We have to find him.
From best-selling author and Walkley Award-winning journalist, Caroline Overington, Missing William Tyrrell is a moving and compelling exploration of one of Australia's most baffling and heartbreaking mysteries.
On Friday 12 September 2014, William Tyrrell - a playful three-year-old boy dressed in a fire-engine red Spider-Man suit - disappears from a quiet street in broad daylight. It's assumed he's lost in the nearby bushland, but despite an intensive search, he's not found, and police start to suspect he's been abducted. No trace of William - not a shoe, not a hair - has ever been found, but now is not the time to surrender. How can a little boy just vanish? We have to find him.
From best-selling author and Walkley Award-winning journalist, Caroline Overington, Missing William Tyrrell is a moving and compelling exploration of one of Australia's most baffling and heartbreaking mysteries.
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2020
30 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Overington
30 books575 followersCaroline Overington is an Australian author and journalist.
She has worked for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and is is currently a staff writer for The Weekend Australian Magazine.
Caroline is a two-time winner of the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism. She won her first Walkley for a series of articles about a literary fraud, and her second for a series about the AWB oil for food scandal.
She is also a winner of the Sir Keith Murdoch prize for excellence in Journalism; and of the Blake Dawson Prize.
Caroline has published five books. Her first, Only in New York, was about working as a foreign correspondent in Manhattan.
Her second, Kickback, was about the UN oil for food scandal. It won the Blake Dawson Prize for Business Literature.
Her first novel, Ghost Child, is about a child murdered by his parents.
Her second, I Came To Say Goodbye, takes the form of a letter from a grandfather to a Supreme Court judge. It was shortlisted for both the Fiction Book of the Year, and overall Book of the Year, in the 2011 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Her latest novel, published in October 2011, is called Matilda is Missing. It is set in the Family Court, and it is about a couple's war over custody of their two year old daughter, Matilda.
Caroline's books are proudly published by Random House Australia.
Caroline is a mother of delightful, 11-year-old twins. She lives with her kids, her husband, a blue dog, and a lizard, in Bondi.
She has worked for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and is is currently a staff writer for The Weekend Australian Magazine.
Caroline is a two-time winner of the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism. She won her first Walkley for a series of articles about a literary fraud, and her second for a series about the AWB oil for food scandal.
She is also a winner of the Sir Keith Murdoch prize for excellence in Journalism; and of the Blake Dawson Prize.
Caroline has published five books. Her first, Only in New York, was about working as a foreign correspondent in Manhattan.
Her second, Kickback, was about the UN oil for food scandal. It won the Blake Dawson Prize for Business Literature.
Her first novel, Ghost Child, is about a child murdered by his parents.
Her second, I Came To Say Goodbye, takes the form of a letter from a grandfather to a Supreme Court judge. It was shortlisted for both the Fiction Book of the Year, and overall Book of the Year, in the 2011 Australian Book Industry Awards.
Her latest novel, published in October 2011, is called Matilda is Missing. It is set in the Family Court, and it is about a couple's war over custody of their two year old daughter, Matilda.
Caroline's books are proudly published by Random House Australia.
Caroline is a mother of delightful, 11-year-old twins. She lives with her kids, her husband, a blue dog, and a lizard, in Bondi.
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June 19, 2020
4★
“There has been some criticism of police, for searching the bush, the drains and the dams for too long, without considering the possibility that something sinister may have happened to William. That is a harsh verdict: the most likely explanation was that he was lost.”
Three-year-old William Tyrrell disappeared from his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall, NSW, Australia on 12 September 2014. Caroline Overington is an award-winning investigative journalist who has thrown herself into the William Tyrrell disappearance case with passion and commitment. She has a podcast, The Nowhere Child, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts.*
There were many stumbling blocks facing the police and media who were trying to figure out what happened. This little boy was fostered with his sister in a home in Sydney, but the family had driven north to visit the foster mother’s mother, “Nana”, as the kids knew her, in a peaceful, rural setting.
When William disappeared, suddenly after running around the corner of the house, pretending to roar like a tiger, everyone assumed he’d run off into the thick bush that was everywhere in the area. Kids do. They find hidey-holes and make little cubby houses under the bushes. So everyone was looking for a little boy in a fire-engine red Spider-Man suit.
William Tyrrell in his Spider-Man suit, roaring like a tiger
But nobody was allowed to know any of the real details for “privacy reasons” for years.
“For three years, nobody had been allowed to know that William was a foster child. And there was no real reason for the cover-up. FaCS [Family and Community Services, a state department] found it hard to let go. They appealed to a higher court, but they lost there, too.
They lost because the courts could see what the Department could not: Forcing the media to publish inaccurate information is wrong. Forcing the NSW Police to lie to the public is wrong. Pretending that William wasn’t a foster child, when everyone who loved him knew otherwise? It was a mistake that had to be fixed.”
Until then, the foster parents were referred to as the real parents, while the real parents, who had stayed in touch, were ignored and not always kept up to date with progress. The case has been big news for many years. Different police officers have been in charge of the investigation and there have been countless (to me) suspects and people of interest.
It’s the kind of story that makes you scared to let a child out of your sight. It’s a difficult read but fascinating, especially to anyone who’s followed the case in the news, which was very confusing.
Overington has done a good job of tying together as many of the threads as possible, moving back and forth in time in a way that makes good sense. We meet several people “of interest” early in the piece, so that when they turn up during the investigation, it’s not a complete surprise. Our opinions are pulled one way, then another, as people are ruled in or out.
The inquest is going on now, 6 years after William disappeared, and the author reminds us that this is not a macabre thing. This is a way of reigniting interest in the case and of stirring some consciences of people who may have been a little suspicious of a partner or friend and who might now be encouraged to come forward.
I read recently that an aged care worker has told the Coroner’s Court that a resident, who was very distressed told her shortly before he died that he had helped a friend with the kidnap.
“Deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame today revealed the inquest would resume in Sydney from October 6 with four days of hearings. . . . . . . 1 June 2020, 9News”**
The number of people involved and affected is staggering. The families and police and investigators are not giving up. I fully expect Caroline Overington to continue her coverage, too.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
*This is the Apple podcast link. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast...
** https://www.9news.com.au/national/wil...
“There has been some criticism of police, for searching the bush, the drains and the dams for too long, without considering the possibility that something sinister may have happened to William. That is a harsh verdict: the most likely explanation was that he was lost.”
Three-year-old William Tyrrell disappeared from his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall, NSW, Australia on 12 September 2014. Caroline Overington is an award-winning investigative journalist who has thrown herself into the William Tyrrell disappearance case with passion and commitment. She has a podcast, The Nowhere Child, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts.*
There were many stumbling blocks facing the police and media who were trying to figure out what happened. This little boy was fostered with his sister in a home in Sydney, but the family had driven north to visit the foster mother’s mother, “Nana”, as the kids knew her, in a peaceful, rural setting.
When William disappeared, suddenly after running around the corner of the house, pretending to roar like a tiger, everyone assumed he’d run off into the thick bush that was everywhere in the area. Kids do. They find hidey-holes and make little cubby houses under the bushes. So everyone was looking for a little boy in a fire-engine red Spider-Man suit.
William Tyrrell in his Spider-Man suit, roaring like a tiger
But nobody was allowed to know any of the real details for “privacy reasons” for years.
“For three years, nobody had been allowed to know that William was a foster child. And there was no real reason for the cover-up. FaCS [Family and Community Services, a state department] found it hard to let go. They appealed to a higher court, but they lost there, too.
They lost because the courts could see what the Department could not: Forcing the media to publish inaccurate information is wrong. Forcing the NSW Police to lie to the public is wrong. Pretending that William wasn’t a foster child, when everyone who loved him knew otherwise? It was a mistake that had to be fixed.”
Until then, the foster parents were referred to as the real parents, while the real parents, who had stayed in touch, were ignored and not always kept up to date with progress. The case has been big news for many years. Different police officers have been in charge of the investigation and there have been countless (to me) suspects and people of interest.
It’s the kind of story that makes you scared to let a child out of your sight. It’s a difficult read but fascinating, especially to anyone who’s followed the case in the news, which was very confusing.
Overington has done a good job of tying together as many of the threads as possible, moving back and forth in time in a way that makes good sense. We meet several people “of interest” early in the piece, so that when they turn up during the investigation, it’s not a complete surprise. Our opinions are pulled one way, then another, as people are ruled in or out.
The inquest is going on now, 6 years after William disappeared, and the author reminds us that this is not a macabre thing. This is a way of reigniting interest in the case and of stirring some consciences of people who may have been a little suspicious of a partner or friend and who might now be encouraged to come forward.
I read recently that an aged care worker has told the Coroner’s Court that a resident, who was very distressed told her shortly before he died that he had helped a friend with the kidnap.
“Deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame today revealed the inquest would resume in Sydney from October 6 with four days of hearings. . . . . . . 1 June 2020, 9News”**
The number of people involved and affected is staggering. The families and police and investigators are not giving up. I fully expect Caroline Overington to continue her coverage, too.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
*This is the Apple podcast link. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast...
** https://www.9news.com.au/national/wil...
May 29, 2020
Most Australians will be aware of the case of William Tyrrell, the three year old boy who went missing on September 12th 2014 from Kendall, a small town on the NSW mid north coast. Fostered with his sister since he was nine moths old, William was by all accounts was a happy, outgoing boy who was thriving in his foster home. He was visiting his foster grandmother when he disappeared while playing in the garden while his foster mum and grandmother were sitting on the deck. Wearing his favourite spider man costume, he was pretending to be a tiger, jumping out and roaring at his family. His foster mum took a photo of him shortly before he ran around the side of the house where he was out of sight for only a few minutes before his foster mum went to see what he was doing. In that short time he had disappeared without a trace.
Police and the local community searched the nearby bush extensively without luck. Police also ruled out the involvement of either the biological family or the foster family in William's disappearance and then interviewed hundreds of people looking for someone who had either abducted William or accidently killed him and covered it up. To this day, despite an intensive police investigation, publicity campaign and offer of a million dollar reward for information, no one knows has come forward with any information of what happened to William.
Based on the interviews and evidence presented in her popular podcast Nowhere Child, award winning journalist Caroline Overington has put together a very clear account of the search for William and the ongoing police investigation, despite it being a complex story. She has presented the facts in a non-sensational way backed up with good research, but also compassion for William and his foster family, as well as his biological family who she felt were not kept well informed by police and ignored by the public campaigns. She has also explained the complexities of the foster care system that made some aspects of this case difficult for the public to understand. Currently William's case is being heard by the coroner, but is on hold due to the corona virus pandemic. His family and the police still hold on to the hope that he could be alive or that his remains will one day be found.
With many thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and Netgalley for a copy of the book
Police and the local community searched the nearby bush extensively without luck. Police also ruled out the involvement of either the biological family or the foster family in William's disappearance and then interviewed hundreds of people looking for someone who had either abducted William or accidently killed him and covered it up. To this day, despite an intensive police investigation, publicity campaign and offer of a million dollar reward for information, no one knows has come forward with any information of what happened to William.
Based on the interviews and evidence presented in her popular podcast Nowhere Child, award winning journalist Caroline Overington has put together a very clear account of the search for William and the ongoing police investigation, despite it being a complex story. She has presented the facts in a non-sensational way backed up with good research, but also compassion for William and his foster family, as well as his biological family who she felt were not kept well informed by police and ignored by the public campaigns. She has also explained the complexities of the foster care system that made some aspects of this case difficult for the public to understand. Currently William's case is being heard by the coroner, but is on hold due to the corona virus pandemic. His family and the police still hold on to the hope that he could be alive or that his remains will one day be found.
With many thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and Netgalley for a copy of the book
August 8, 2021
I am not typically a true crime fan, but this author I love, and having enjoyed Last Woman Hanged: The Terrible, True Story of Louise Collins, and all of her many fiction titles, I decided on this audio version. Narrated by herself was great, also. What I liked about this is that she is not a voice actor, it has a few flaws, but this made me like it more; I found it to be more real.
The author was another committed professional in trying to sort out this awful and tragic occurrence. As we go through the years of investigations, we see the huge amount of resources and manhours committed to attempts of cracking this case. Even calling it a case doesn’t seem right, the families effected have their lives torn apart, in more ways than one.
A small boy disappears while his relatives are mere metres away. This crime seems incomprehensible. So many leads, witnesses and concerned members of the public trying to help and find this young innocent and small child. But in the haste and confusion to try and work things out, many mistakes are made.
These occurrences end up showing the deplorable side of human nature, and interestingly, this part of Australia that we find ourselves in seems to be a haven for paedophiles, older men with something lacking in their constitution. These people had to be approached, weeded out and sifted through. Take for instance a man that sets up a support group for grandparents. He is a paedophile and uses this situation to avail himself to be in the company of children. Horrible things happen, and those in the police force and social workers must see this stuff every day. I’m not sure how they do it.
Caroline Overington lays out the many years of this investigation; this is done sensitively and thoroughly. As I listened to the audio version, I did not note down portions that I liked as I often do with a physical copy, but I did note down this: One of the saddest facts was that the biological parents were never updated. Nobody thought it was important to keep them up to date.
William Tyrrell was a foster child. His biological parents were young, troubled, and addicts at various times in their tumultuous pasts. The law prevented this from being known. Therefore, foster parents were caring for William at the time in question was not able to be made public, we were not to know the truth. This took me to think of Lindy Chamberlain, and Australian’s were probably shaking their heads about where are the parents? Why have they not spoken to the media?
I assumed FACS (the department of Family and Community Services) blocked their involvement as they did not wish to face public scrutiny, but their reasoning was that if William was ever found, he would face the repercussions of being a child in care (as well as his sister).
The book also covers in great detail, how William’s birth parents felt during and after their contact visits with their children, and we see what it was like for them to have to ‘hand their children’ back after these visits, even being witness to the presents bought for and given to them at the time.
This thorough and enlightening book then led me to want to read about the lead investigator,
Gary Jubelin, who worked tirelessly on the case. He had such a dogged determination which resulted in him retiring from a job he loved after more than thirty years, and one in which he excelled. This should not be the be all and end all take away, but he was an investigator that led one of empathy, to be replaced with an individual that did not. The family could not contact him when needed, like they could Gary. So, in the end, this is what I was left being upset about and propelled me to next read I Catch Killers: The Life and Many Deaths of a Homicide Detective by Gary.
Hats of to the author, this was tireless and needed for a case that drew attention nationwide and I learned a tremendous amount. The families gained no peace, I cannot begin to imagine.
The author was another committed professional in trying to sort out this awful and tragic occurrence. As we go through the years of investigations, we see the huge amount of resources and manhours committed to attempts of cracking this case. Even calling it a case doesn’t seem right, the families effected have their lives torn apart, in more ways than one.
A small boy disappears while his relatives are mere metres away. This crime seems incomprehensible. So many leads, witnesses and concerned members of the public trying to help and find this young innocent and small child. But in the haste and confusion to try and work things out, many mistakes are made.
These occurrences end up showing the deplorable side of human nature, and interestingly, this part of Australia that we find ourselves in seems to be a haven for paedophiles, older men with something lacking in their constitution. These people had to be approached, weeded out and sifted through. Take for instance a man that sets up a support group for grandparents. He is a paedophile and uses this situation to avail himself to be in the company of children. Horrible things happen, and those in the police force and social workers must see this stuff every day. I’m not sure how they do it.
Caroline Overington lays out the many years of this investigation; this is done sensitively and thoroughly. As I listened to the audio version, I did not note down portions that I liked as I often do with a physical copy, but I did note down this: One of the saddest facts was that the biological parents were never updated. Nobody thought it was important to keep them up to date.
William Tyrrell was a foster child. His biological parents were young, troubled, and addicts at various times in their tumultuous pasts. The law prevented this from being known. Therefore, foster parents were caring for William at the time in question was not able to be made public, we were not to know the truth. This took me to think of Lindy Chamberlain, and Australian’s were probably shaking their heads about where are the parents? Why have they not spoken to the media?
I assumed FACS (the department of Family and Community Services) blocked their involvement as they did not wish to face public scrutiny, but their reasoning was that if William was ever found, he would face the repercussions of being a child in care (as well as his sister).
The book also covers in great detail, how William’s birth parents felt during and after their contact visits with their children, and we see what it was like for them to have to ‘hand their children’ back after these visits, even being witness to the presents bought for and given to them at the time.
This thorough and enlightening book then led me to want to read about the lead investigator,
Gary Jubelin, who worked tirelessly on the case. He had such a dogged determination which resulted in him retiring from a job he loved after more than thirty years, and one in which he excelled. This should not be the be all and end all take away, but he was an investigator that led one of empathy, to be replaced with an individual that did not. The family could not contact him when needed, like they could Gary. So, in the end, this is what I was left being upset about and propelled me to next read I Catch Killers: The Life and Many Deaths of a Homicide Detective by Gary.
Hats of to the author, this was tireless and needed for a case that drew attention nationwide and I learned a tremendous amount. The families gained no peace, I cannot begin to imagine.
February 29, 2020
William Tyrrell disappeared from his foster grandmother’s home in September 2014. He was three. He has never been found. It’s a complex case - a tangle of biological and foster families, many many suspects, and dedicated detectives, journalists and citizen journalists.
This book contained little new information that has already appeared in the media, and on Caroline’s podcast Nowhere Child. But it is an excellent omnibus of research in one place. It’s well researched and written, and also Caroline is a calm narrator. The story is complex and I felt Caroline has written it in a simple way for readers to follow.
I felt this book showed equal sympathy for both William’s biological family and foster family, and gave an insight into the complexities of the foster system. The book also advocated for the worth of all children - no matter the type of home they come from.
Caroline is an excellent advocate for this little boy. I hope he work helps bring results and closure. She writes with a great level of compassion and collaboration. I really admired how she acknowledged all the journalism colleagues who have worked on this case through the years.
I only wish the book could have been released at the end of the inquest, as this mystery is not yet solved. Perhaps it will never be - but someone knows something. They have to.
Sending love to William and all who love him and are still fighting for justice for him. I also hope this book gives readers insight into the plight of other children in the foster system, and also missing children, who don’t have as much support as William has.
This book contained little new information that has already appeared in the media, and on Caroline’s podcast Nowhere Child. But it is an excellent omnibus of research in one place. It’s well researched and written, and also Caroline is a calm narrator. The story is complex and I felt Caroline has written it in a simple way for readers to follow.
I felt this book showed equal sympathy for both William’s biological family and foster family, and gave an insight into the complexities of the foster system. The book also advocated for the worth of all children - no matter the type of home they come from.
Caroline is an excellent advocate for this little boy. I hope he work helps bring results and closure. She writes with a great level of compassion and collaboration. I really admired how she acknowledged all the journalism colleagues who have worked on this case through the years.
I only wish the book could have been released at the end of the inquest, as this mystery is not yet solved. Perhaps it will never be - but someone knows something. They have to.
Sending love to William and all who love him and are still fighting for justice for him. I also hope this book gives readers insight into the plight of other children in the foster system, and also missing children, who don’t have as much support as William has.
April 30, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #15: A book by or about a journalist
Images of the bright eyed little boy in a Spider-Man suit have been beamed across our nation since William Tyrrell tragically disappeared on Friday 12th September 2014. With an ongoing investigation and a court process, there has been an army of Australians working to solve this case. Award winning journalist and author Caroline Overington provides her insight on the case in Missing William Tyrrell
Missing William Tyrrell is 2020 Harper Collins publication, penned by Caroline Overington, a recipient of the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism. It carefully examines all avenues of the case of a little boy who was playing on the porch of his foster Nana’s house, acting like a tiger, when he seemingly disappeared into thin air. With no witnesses to disappearance and no evidence providing clues as to William’s whereabouts, the police were faced with investigating a very unusual case. The nature of the disappearance, the location and time continues to baffle authorities. With many joining arms from the time William disappeared to help track him down, despite a lengthy and widespread search, William has never been recovered. Speculation began as to whether or not a planned abduction took place. With no clues, evidence or conclusive leads, the hunt is still on to bring William home.
The heartbreaking disappearance of a three year old boy is the focal subject of Caroline Overington’s investigative piece, Missing William Tyrrell. Drawing on her well received podcast series, Nowhere Child, Overington has compiled a book that delves a little deeper into this complex and unsolved case. I read Missing William Tyrrell in just a twenty four hour turn around, which is testament to the writing of the author and the pull of this case.
It is hard not to get emotional about the William Tyrell case, knowing how many lives have been shattered by his disappearance. Caroline Overington is a mother of twins, but she is also a highly experienced journalist. Overington puts on her investigative hat and approaches this case with a steady hand, guiding the reader through a series of information, facts, insights and theories. However, there is no definitive answer as to what really happened to William that September day, over five years ago now.
Missing William Tyrrell is structured into seventeen chapters that delve into many facets of this case. We receive an incredibly detailed blow by blow account of the day, from various sets of eyes. We discover information about William’s biological parents, grandparents, his foster carers, the foster system, key figures in the case, neighbours, suspects, police personnel and advocates for Williams’s case. It makes for an interesting and full read. While reading Missing William Tyrrell some new information came to light, while other areas were already known to me via news reels. Overington builds a number of different scenarios as to what may have happened to little William, which ranges from a foul play, an accident that was covered up and a pedophile ring among others. But nothing is clear cut, or conclusive about this truly baffling case.
The added insertion of a photograph collection in the centre of the book puts a heartbreaking, emotional and human face to this case. An Acknowledgements section closes off Overington’s book, providing a glimpse into the range of sources and manpower assigned to this case and book. All in all, although there are no answers as to this ongoing case provided by Overington, it is clear that the fight to recover young William continues.
‘Nobody wants to quit. Not while William is still missing. Because can you not feel him all around us? He waits for us to find him. We must all at some point say goodbye to those we loved, or else they must say goodbye to us. He deserves this.’
Missing William Tyrrell is book #50 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2020 #15: A book by or about a journalist
Images of the bright eyed little boy in a Spider-Man suit have been beamed across our nation since William Tyrrell tragically disappeared on Friday 12th September 2014. With an ongoing investigation and a court process, there has been an army of Australians working to solve this case. Award winning journalist and author Caroline Overington provides her insight on the case in Missing William Tyrrell
Missing William Tyrrell is 2020 Harper Collins publication, penned by Caroline Overington, a recipient of the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism. It carefully examines all avenues of the case of a little boy who was playing on the porch of his foster Nana’s house, acting like a tiger, when he seemingly disappeared into thin air. With no witnesses to disappearance and no evidence providing clues as to William’s whereabouts, the police were faced with investigating a very unusual case. The nature of the disappearance, the location and time continues to baffle authorities. With many joining arms from the time William disappeared to help track him down, despite a lengthy and widespread search, William has never been recovered. Speculation began as to whether or not a planned abduction took place. With no clues, evidence or conclusive leads, the hunt is still on to bring William home.
The heartbreaking disappearance of a three year old boy is the focal subject of Caroline Overington’s investigative piece, Missing William Tyrrell. Drawing on her well received podcast series, Nowhere Child, Overington has compiled a book that delves a little deeper into this complex and unsolved case. I read Missing William Tyrrell in just a twenty four hour turn around, which is testament to the writing of the author and the pull of this case.
It is hard not to get emotional about the William Tyrell case, knowing how many lives have been shattered by his disappearance. Caroline Overington is a mother of twins, but she is also a highly experienced journalist. Overington puts on her investigative hat and approaches this case with a steady hand, guiding the reader through a series of information, facts, insights and theories. However, there is no definitive answer as to what really happened to William that September day, over five years ago now.
Missing William Tyrrell is structured into seventeen chapters that delve into many facets of this case. We receive an incredibly detailed blow by blow account of the day, from various sets of eyes. We discover information about William’s biological parents, grandparents, his foster carers, the foster system, key figures in the case, neighbours, suspects, police personnel and advocates for Williams’s case. It makes for an interesting and full read. While reading Missing William Tyrrell some new information came to light, while other areas were already known to me via news reels. Overington builds a number of different scenarios as to what may have happened to little William, which ranges from a foul play, an accident that was covered up and a pedophile ring among others. But nothing is clear cut, or conclusive about this truly baffling case.
The added insertion of a photograph collection in the centre of the book puts a heartbreaking, emotional and human face to this case. An Acknowledgements section closes off Overington’s book, providing a glimpse into the range of sources and manpower assigned to this case and book. All in all, although there are no answers as to this ongoing case provided by Overington, it is clear that the fight to recover young William continues.
‘Nobody wants to quit. Not while William is still missing. Because can you not feel him all around us? He waits for us to find him. We must all at some point say goodbye to those we loved, or else they must say goodbye to us. He deserves this.’
Missing William Tyrrell is book #50 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
June 13, 2020
I really wanted to read this book to see if it had anymore information that i hadnt already known. The writing was superb but for me I just didnt really find out any new information so I was a bit disappointed. I give it 3.5 stars.
May 11, 2020
I haven't gone and bought books for a long time, but when I saw this one I knew I wanted to read it. Like so many Australians, every time you see a roaring picture of William Tyrell, whether it be on a billboard or a friend's facebook status, you feel first a sense of disbelief as the years roll by with no clues or suspects, and then almost an outrage that this can be the case. That such a small child could still be missing, that someone, somewhere, knows what happened. This child didn't wander off, and he wasn't even technically unsupervised. He simply walked around the corner of a house, playing like a tiger, and after a few minutes his mother and grandmother (foster, I should add) did not hear him again, and no one ever has.
Watching the news and seeing facebook updates, I knew the basic facts of this case, but this book brings it all together and there were little things I didn't know. Having all the information together can only be a good thing, and blasting the image of this poor little boy until he is found one way or another is all we can do for now. Never forget, and hope he doesn't become like the Beaumont children. An important book, and written in a simple, easy to understand way but with a personal touch. Five stars.
Watching the news and seeing facebook updates, I knew the basic facts of this case, but this book brings it all together and there were little things I didn't know. Having all the information together can only be a good thing, and blasting the image of this poor little boy until he is found one way or another is all we can do for now. Never forget, and hope he doesn't become like the Beaumont children. An important book, and written in a simple, easy to understand way but with a personal touch. Five stars.
December 17, 2020
Having read most of Caroline Overington’s works of fiction I was keen to read this non-fiction account of the disappearance of William Tyrrell. Like most Australians I was aware of the case but had only gleaned the overall story, it occurring on the other side of the country. Caroline’s account, although no new evidence was exposed, pulled the story together in a calm & rational manner. She looked at the case from different perspectives & showed equal sympathy for both William’s biological & foster families. She illustrated what a difficult situation it was for both families & showed compassion in her telling of the story. I am glad I read the book as it gave me greater knowledge of the case, but am saddened that we still do not know what happened to William & his families haven’t had the closure they need.
February 2, 2023
On 12 September 2014, nearly 8 1/2 years ago, three year old William Tyrrell went missing. There is hardly an Australian who hasn't heard of him.
Overington looks at the events leading up to his disappearance and the subsequent investigation by New South Wales police, which too date has been unable to find out what happened to the boy in the Spiderman costume.
Overington looks at the events leading up to his disappearance and the subsequent investigation by New South Wales police, which too date has been unable to find out what happened to the boy in the Spiderman costume.
January 31, 2022
I did not follow this case at the time and was such a heart breaking read. I sincerely wish the ending was different for all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2025
I often think of poor little William, I hope one day his case is solved.
November 30, 2021
Caroline Overington is a fantastic journalist and writer and this book about the mysterious disappeared of William Tyrrell, a 3-year-old boy from Sydney is a sensitive, factual account of the case and what is known…so far. Recently there’s been some developments in the case and police are searching for William, with the belief that he is deceased and I hope when it’s discovered what happened to William that Caroline updates this book to tell the full story.
June 27, 2020
So well written and narrated. Very interesting from a social work, foster care and detective perspective. Extremely sad that William was never found. Just devastating for his loved ones. I recognised the true crime podcast contacts mentioned in the acknowledgements such as Teacher's Pet and Who The Hell is Hamish. A very interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2020
“These are not easy paragraphs to write. We know that not every paedophile is a creepy old man. Yet we see photographs on Facebook of kindly looking grandpa’s holding their children in the bath, and we coo and it is sometimes, maybe even often, innocent. Some of these men are paedophiles. This is how they communicate online, with motifs, such as a rubber duck in the bath. Strike force detectives have been forced, during the glummest days of this investigation, to launch surveillance of this type of activity. They infiltrated paedophile networks. They went undercover and had to search for, and watch thousands of child abuse videos and photographs, hoping, dreading that they might find William on the dark web, or on a USB that had been passed to them in a car park by somebody who trusted them to be of the same inclination. They did it because finding William was the the most important assignment of their lives and also the hardest. And some broke down and some will never work again, and none will ever look at the world in the same way. They dedicated themselves to sifting through the most monstrous material known to exist. They did not find William Tyrell in the material they examined. Images of children being abused, of children howling in terror. Of children at the mercy of the worst people on earth.”
But they did find a lot of grubs they that managed to charge with other crimes.
Caroline Overington covers this story with an enormous amount of compassion and respect for all those that loved William. The podcast is similar but parts of the investigation, as in the above extract, were covered in more depth.
What I find most disturbing is that these monsters walk amongst us and some people’s lack of a conscience allows them to keep their dirty secrets.
I really hope there is a hell, because there will be a special place there for the likes of the animals that involve themselves in the abuse of defenceless children.
But they did find a lot of grubs they that managed to charge with other crimes.
Caroline Overington covers this story with an enormous amount of compassion and respect for all those that loved William. The podcast is similar but parts of the investigation, as in the above extract, were covered in more depth.
What I find most disturbing is that these monsters walk amongst us and some people’s lack of a conscience allows them to keep their dirty secrets.
I really hope there is a hell, because there will be a special place there for the likes of the animals that involve themselves in the abuse of defenceless children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2020
I think what makes rating this book difficult is the complete lack of answers in the case. There’s so much that we don’t know and I honestly don’t know if we ever will- so many gaps to be filled. I know the media has had a field day with this case, so it’s important that a book like this has been written to lay bare facts rather than fuff about with speculation. It must be so devastating to be someone who is a part of this family though, not knowing what happened to your son (irrespective of foster or biological status) and this book successfully conveys that hopelessness.
The chapters on the police investigation were also done well, especially with the discussion surrounding the officer who was stood down over this case. I think there’s such a huge injustice to be seen where the only individual who is pursued in a case like this is an investigating officer as opposed to a criminal. This book sheds light on the disappointing processes of justice that, while designed to be fair and impartial, sometimes find themselves lacking the necessary humanity that’s required.
I really hope one day that we will see a revised edition of this book that has answers- not for the community, but for the family, and for those who love this little boy. They deserve to know what happened. It’s all we can hope for for them at this point.
The chapters on the police investigation were also done well, especially with the discussion surrounding the officer who was stood down over this case. I think there’s such a huge injustice to be seen where the only individual who is pursued in a case like this is an investigating officer as opposed to a criminal. This book sheds light on the disappointing processes of justice that, while designed to be fair and impartial, sometimes find themselves lacking the necessary humanity that’s required.
I really hope one day that we will see a revised edition of this book that has answers- not for the community, but for the family, and for those who love this little boy. They deserve to know what happened. It’s all we can hope for for them at this point.
May 15, 2020
I just found this wasn’t very well written and was surprised by the numerous grammatical errors which made it hard to follow at times.
I thought the author was biased at times too.
I would recommend sticking to the great podcast series about William rather than reading the book. The podcast is more informative and well done.
I thought the author was biased at times too.
I would recommend sticking to the great podcast series about William rather than reading the book. The podcast is more informative and well done.
August 3, 2023
On Friday 12 September 2014, William Tyrrell - a playful three-year-old boy dressed in a fire-engine red Spider-Man suit - disappears from a quiet street in broad daylight. It’s assumed he’s lost in the nearby bushland, but despite an intensive search, he’s not found, and police start to suspect he’s been abducted. No trace of William - not a shoe, now a hair - has ever been found, but now is not the the time surrender. How can a little boy just vanish? We have to find him.
—
My thoughts (with some spoilers):
If you asked any Australian about William Tyrrell than I can guarantee they’ve pictured him in that Spider-Man suit roaring like a tiger. My heart breaks when I think of his little face 💔
I decided I needed to read this book asap as I knew developments had happened in this case. I wanted to appreciate this book knowing it was written in 2020. So I’m writing this review on the book and not what I know now.
Caroline Overington has done a great job doing a deep dive into what has happened to little William. There are lots of complicated threads with lots of different people and theories that this book has tied together. For such a difficult case it has been written in a really compassionate and sensitive way.
The police, including detective Gary Jubelin, have been bad mouthed over the way they ran this case. The way the cops and some of the public treated Gary is criminal. I’m not going to go into details but I do recommend reading his books.
At the time I remember being confused about William’s real and foster parents and who was who. William’s real parents were young, troubled and addicts so it took a while for the public to find out he was with his foster parents. While the case unfolded we heard a lot from the foster parents but I really do like how this book covered the feelings of his real parents.
When William ran around the corner roaring like a tiger who knew this would happen. Everyone just thought he ran into the bush and it was just a matter of time until we found him. This is the kind of story that makes you scared to ever let your child ever out of your sight.
—
My thoughts (with some spoilers):
If you asked any Australian about William Tyrrell than I can guarantee they’ve pictured him in that Spider-Man suit roaring like a tiger. My heart breaks when I think of his little face 💔
I decided I needed to read this book asap as I knew developments had happened in this case. I wanted to appreciate this book knowing it was written in 2020. So I’m writing this review on the book and not what I know now.
Caroline Overington has done a great job doing a deep dive into what has happened to little William. There are lots of complicated threads with lots of different people and theories that this book has tied together. For such a difficult case it has been written in a really compassionate and sensitive way.
The police, including detective Gary Jubelin, have been bad mouthed over the way they ran this case. The way the cops and some of the public treated Gary is criminal. I’m not going to go into details but I do recommend reading his books.
At the time I remember being confused about William’s real and foster parents and who was who. William’s real parents were young, troubled and addicts so it took a while for the public to find out he was with his foster parents. While the case unfolded we heard a lot from the foster parents but I really do like how this book covered the feelings of his real parents.
When William ran around the corner roaring like a tiger who knew this would happen. Everyone just thought he ran into the bush and it was just a matter of time until we found him. This is the kind of story that makes you scared to ever let your child ever out of your sight.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
3.5 Stars
Caroline Overington's audiobook, "Missing William Tyrell," offers an intriguing look into the disappearance of William Tyrell during a turbulent time in the investigation. Set just after Gary Jubelin's dismissal and before the allegations against the foster family surfaced, it provides a snapshot of the uncertainties surrounding the case.
One aspect the book handles well is its portrayal of the challenges faced by the biological family. It vividly captures their anguish and frustration as they navigate a system that seems stacked against them. The isolation they experience during the investigation adds a layer of heartbreak to an already tragic situation.
Moreover, the book effectively highlights the strained relationship between the foster and biological families, shedding light on the complexities of their interactions and the lack of cooperation.
However, the audiobook isn't without its flaws. While it critiques the flaws in the initial investigation, some readers might find its portrayal of the foster family a tad forgiving, especially given recent developments implicating them. A more balanced examination of their actions and potential involvement would have added depth to the narrative.
Additionally, the book could have delved further into the decision to allow Lindsey to remain with the foster family following William's disappearance, raising important questions about accountability and child welfare protocols.
Overall, "Missing William Tyrell" offers a thought-provoking exploration of a case that continues to captivate public interest. While it may have its shortcomings, it serves as a compelling reminder of the complexities surrounding unresolved mysteries and the impact they have on all involved parties.
Caroline Overington's audiobook, "Missing William Tyrell," offers an intriguing look into the disappearance of William Tyrell during a turbulent time in the investigation. Set just after Gary Jubelin's dismissal and before the allegations against the foster family surfaced, it provides a snapshot of the uncertainties surrounding the case.
One aspect the book handles well is its portrayal of the challenges faced by the biological family. It vividly captures their anguish and frustration as they navigate a system that seems stacked against them. The isolation they experience during the investigation adds a layer of heartbreak to an already tragic situation.
Moreover, the book effectively highlights the strained relationship between the foster and biological families, shedding light on the complexities of their interactions and the lack of cooperation.
However, the audiobook isn't without its flaws. While it critiques the flaws in the initial investigation, some readers might find its portrayal of the foster family a tad forgiving, especially given recent developments implicating them. A more balanced examination of their actions and potential involvement would have added depth to the narrative.
Additionally, the book could have delved further into the decision to allow Lindsey to remain with the foster family following William's disappearance, raising important questions about accountability and child welfare protocols.
Overall, "Missing William Tyrell" offers a thought-provoking exploration of a case that continues to captivate public interest. While it may have its shortcomings, it serves as a compelling reminder of the complexities surrounding unresolved mysteries and the impact they have on all involved parties.
April 27, 2020
A very thorough book about the very sad unsolved case of little William Tyrrell. For many of us he will forever be known as the little boy in the spiderman suit who went missing whilst playing in the garden with his sister. A particularly haunting book for any parent to read. It delves deeper into the families both William's foster family and his biological parents and extended family and how he ended up in the foster system. Whilst also answering the questions a lot of the Australian public had as to why do much information was withheld at the time of the initial investigation. It also delves into possible suspects and the eyewitness who saw William that day being driven away by a lady driving erratically in a car. The anguish of everyone who knew William is felt in this book. Hopefully one day this case is solved and whoever is responsible for his disappearance is brought to justice. #carolineoverington #missingwilliamtyrrell #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #bookstagram #bookqueen #greatreads truecrime #amazon
July 28, 2025
A true crime fiction novel, Missing William Tyrrell (2020) by Caroline Overington is an exposé of the 2015 disappearance of a boy from a house in a quiet small country town street, in New South Wales. This well-known Aussie missing child case is forever seared in memory with that photograph of three-year-old William Tyrrell’s in his spiderman costume. Caroline Overington systematically details events on the morning of Friday 12th September 2014 and subsequent searches, police investigation, sighted vehicles, persons of interests and overall management of the case. Unfortunately, given this book was released a few years ago, it needs to be revised in regard to further developments, police searches and the possibility of laying charges. Yet, despite its incompleteness, it’s a well written and accurate presentation of the tragedy with a four star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.
July 19, 2020
The name William Tyrell is infamous in Australia, anyone old enough to understand had their heart broken when this happened. Caroline Overington is a fantastic journalist and author, she does a good job with this book for the most part, however, it does tend to get a little bias at times, and when I read true-crime books, especially unsolved ones, I’d rather a more neutral approach.
Still, a decent read nonetheless. Hopefully one day this will be solved and the families will get closure. As it stands it’s a very infuriating case filled with a lot of loose ends and hidden identities.
I’m intrigued to see what the other book, Searching for Spider-Man by Ally Chumley will add when it’s released later this month.
3.5 stars for this one.
Still, a decent read nonetheless. Hopefully one day this will be solved and the families will get closure. As it stands it’s a very infuriating case filled with a lot of loose ends and hidden identities.
I’m intrigued to see what the other book, Searching for Spider-Man by Ally Chumley will add when it’s released later this month.
3.5 stars for this one.
September 27, 2020
This book is very well researched and has very thorough details on interviews of the foster parents and neighbours.
I felt the first couple of chapters were written not so well but then picked up and the rest of the book was pretty good. I learnt a few things about the case that I didn't know and I have been following it reasonably closely for years.
It details the mistakes the Police made early on but also details how thorough other parts of the investigation were done.
I don't understand why the author did not use the real names of the biological parents and grandmother?? These are well known on social media and also through the media.
The author does portray very well the feeling of utter hopelessness and despair of just not knowing where poor William is or what happened.
I felt the first couple of chapters were written not so well but then picked up and the rest of the book was pretty good. I learnt a few things about the case that I didn't know and I have been following it reasonably closely for years.
It details the mistakes the Police made early on but also details how thorough other parts of the investigation were done.
I don't understand why the author did not use the real names of the biological parents and grandmother?? These are well known on social media and also through the media.
The author does portray very well the feeling of utter hopelessness and despair of just not knowing where poor William is or what happened.
October 3, 2020
Gosh I couldn’t put this one down, still can’t believe this little boy is missing, the frightening statistics that over the last 10 years there has been an 83% increase with child sex offenders in NSW alone and unfortunately that figure does not include some crimes due to lack of communication between departments.
One thing I do know, Gary Jublin would have been a detective I’d want on any case . Instead he was prosecuted by NSW police force.
We need to protect our children first and foremost , Gary went hard but the intent was to rule people out of the investigation.
It’s an interesting read , I hope this little boy is found for both his natural parents and foster parents who both loved him so much.
One thing I do know, Gary Jublin would have been a detective I’d want on any case . Instead he was prosecuted by NSW police force.
We need to protect our children first and foremost , Gary went hard but the intent was to rule people out of the investigation.
It’s an interesting read , I hope this little boy is found for both his natural parents and foster parents who both loved him so much.
May 31, 2020
A well written account of William Tyrrell’s abduction (needed a final edit for typos, as there are several).
It is a concern for all, the amount of paedophiles that infiltrate systems & organisations. How? With all the criminal history checks that occur before one can gain employment or voluntary work. Disgrace!
In my opinion it was a failing, by more than one agency, not to keep the biological parents informed. “He is my son regardless of his status as a foster child, and I am still his father, regardless of my personal circumstances.” (p250)
Yet, the family situation is complex, as is the unsolved case.
My heart goes out to both families.
It is a concern for all, the amount of paedophiles that infiltrate systems & organisations. How? With all the criminal history checks that occur before one can gain employment or voluntary work. Disgrace!
In my opinion it was a failing, by more than one agency, not to keep the biological parents informed. “He is my son regardless of his status as a foster child, and I am still his father, regardless of my personal circumstances.” (p250)
Yet, the family situation is complex, as is the unsolved case.
My heart goes out to both families.
January 9, 2024
A tragic case which was written about here with compassion and thoroughness. It was interesting to hear about the ins and outs of that day and crazy to think this happened at all and that we still dont know what happened to him. I remembered seeing this all over the news when it happened and it’s just so heartbreaking for both families and so sad they had very little in the way of any leads for this case.
It was at times a bit procedural but that helps sometimes to wrap your head around the facts and this was clearly well researched!
It was at times a bit procedural but that helps sometimes to wrap your head around the facts and this was clearly well researched!
February 26, 2020
Why are you suppressing the identity of Williams biological penny's and his biological grandmother? Is been widely reported in the mainstream press.
William's birth parents, Karlie Tyrrell and Brendan Collins. William's grandmother Nat Collins with a young Brendan. William's father Brendan Collins is due for release. William Tyrrell riding a scooter with his sister who was playing with him when he vanished.Mar 9, 2018
William's birth parents, Karlie Tyrrell and Brendan Collins. William's grandmother Nat Collins with a young Brendan. William's father Brendan Collins is due for release. William Tyrrell riding a scooter with his sister who was playing with him when he vanished.Mar 9, 2018
July 6, 2020
Investigative journalist Caroline Overington examines the case of missing child William Tyrrell whose disappearance from a small town in NSW is still a mystery. This is a mixture of interviews, police transcripts and photographs from the time of his disappearance and throughout the ongoing investigation. A good reminder that there is someone out there who knows something and this book will hopefully encourage new leads in the case.
August 13, 2020
Carolyn Overington has done a good job of tying together all the threads of this baffling disappearance. She shows compassion to the families involved, and to the police who investigated, while being open to exposing to the shortcomings . This is a very readable book, while not having the answers, at least lays out all the known facts. I also found the hounding of certain suspects, who were ultimately cleared, very interesting.
August 24, 2020
This was about as good as a true crime book can be when the mystery at its core remains unsolved.
It won't offer much new material for people who've followed the case closely, but I'm not much of a true crime buff so this was largely new to me. Caroline Overington effectively weaved together all the threads and major players, and painted a frustrating picture of the foster care bureaucracy and police failings that have hindered the case.
I'm now really interested in Gary Jubelin and reading up more on his career!
It won't offer much new material for people who've followed the case closely, but I'm not much of a true crime buff so this was largely new to me. Caroline Overington effectively weaved together all the threads and major players, and painted a frustrating picture of the foster care bureaucracy and police failings that have hindered the case.
I'm now really interested in Gary Jubelin and reading up more on his career!
October 9, 2020
An easy read and gripping subject despite knowing the ending before starting. The case is well known to Australians, as it should be. The more publicity the better to help bring about an answer. The Laurieton area is very familiar to me which makes the story very relatable; that and the fact I know the feeling when a child in your care suddenly disappears from view (fortunately for me just a temporary experience),
From reading this book I have formed the opinion that this was planned with a lot of optimism and the child walked into the hands of a monster probably more easily than could have been expected.
The William Tyrrell investigation seemed to have on hand the best of everyone from several categories and yet there were ‘missteps’ which could have altered the outcome significantly if they had not occurred.
I have some more opinions as you will have once you finish this book.
From reading this book I have formed the opinion that this was planned with a lot of optimism and the child walked into the hands of a monster probably more easily than could have been expected.
The William Tyrrell investigation seemed to have on hand the best of everyone from several categories and yet there were ‘missteps’ which could have altered the outcome significantly if they had not occurred.
I have some more opinions as you will have once you finish this book.
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