25 years after David Spencer (11) and Patrick Warren (13) disappeared on Boxing Day 1996 in Solihull, local residents have taken the matter into their own hands and began searching for the boys following a fresh tip-off.
Led by Lee O’ Toole, brother of David Spencer, a group of men have begun digging five miles from the family home following a tip off that a suspect was seen digging on the land prior to the boys going missing.
The new information came to light following a Channel 4 documentary called “The Footsteps of Killers” which recently aired about the incident.
Dubbed the Milk Carton kids, after being the first missing people to appear on the front of milk cartons as part of a National Missing Persons Helpline campaign, David and Patrick were last seen around midnight on December 26, 1996 in Chelmsley Wood at a petrol station and are suspected to have been killed.
In the documentary, Mike Amyes from Solihull told the film crew that he spotted a suspect at the time, a man called Brian Field, digging near to Solihull Moors FC football ground a couple of days prior to the boys going missing.
Convicted child killer and paedophile, Field was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 for the murder and rape of Surrey pupil Roy Tutill in 1968. However, Field was interviewed by police and was not charged in connection with the disappearance of the two Solhull boys due to insufficient evidence.
Though police have encouraged the public not to go digging for the missing schoolboys, dozens have joined the search.
An Instagram video of the search, shows some of the searchers claiming they have found bones and children’s clothes on the site.
Searchers don t-shirts with the two missing boys faces
A force spokesperson said: “We recognise and sympathise with the strong sense of feeling surrounding the disappearance of Patrick Warren and David Spencer in 1996.
“It’s highly emotive for their families, friends and the wider community.
“We understand there are many frustrations and a lack of trust around our initial investigation and the many reviews we’ve carried out since.
“We also know a group has been set up encouraging people to take matters into their own hands and dig at the back of a football ground in Damson Wood Lane.
“We’d urge people not to do this. Searching should be left to us and is based on areas of interest, we use trained specialist experts who are able to preserve any evidence that may be found.
“We’re in touch with the Spencer family, and others, who are providing new information.”
Source: BBC News