A tragic discovery was made in Melbourne, Australia, when police uncovered the remains of a toddler buried in a back garden. The body, which is believed to belong to an 18-month-old boy, was found approximately 50 centimeters below the surface at a residential property in Brookfield. This significant find came after six hours of excavation on December 8, 2023, and has shocked the community.
The investigation began earlier this year when the Melton Crime Investigation Unit launched a probe into the child’s disappearance. It is thought that the boy lived at the residence with his two siblings in 2014 before the family moved overseas, potentially to Albania. Notably, the child had not been reported missing at the time of his departure.
Residents were left reeling from the revelation. The current occupant of the property expressed disbelief upon being informed by police that a body might be buried just meters from his home. He stated, “Something like this is not supposed to happen but it’s happened 14 years ago. Something very bad. Very terrible.”
Victoria Police have clarified that the current owners of the property are not connected to the investigation or the previous residents. A police spokesperson confirmed that they received a tip-off from a family member of the toddler, who felt compelled to share the information after years of silence.
The police issued a statement outlining the details of the operation: “On Monday, December 8, with assistance from the Missing Persons Squad, Australian Federal Police, Major Crime Scene Unit, and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, the property was searched. A preliminary excavation uncovered the yet to be formally identified human remains around 1:30 PM. The coroner has been advised, and a post-mortem will occur in due course.”
The Missing Persons Squad will now take over the investigation, which remains ongoing. As inquiries progress, it is still unclear whether Australian authorities have reached out to their Albanian counterparts. Australia maintains an extradition agreement with Albania, which could be significant as the investigation unfolds.
This devastating case serves as a reminder of the long-lasting impact of unresolved disappearances and the importance of community awareness in bringing closure to affected families. The police continue to seek information that could assist in identifying the remains and clarifying the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
