Ben Disappearance: Case handed over to Greek Police – “These news are devastating”

Fifty-one-year-old Kerry Needham has spent decades desperately trying to find her son Ben, who vanished at just 21 months old on July 24, 1991, on the Greek island of Kos.

The case, one of the most well-known child disappearances in Europe, has remained unsolved for nearly 35 years, with Ben’s mother never giving up her search for answers about what happened that summer.

Little Ben had moved to Kos with his mother in an effort to start a new life near his grandparents. While playing outside a farmhouse that was being renovated, he disappeared within minutes without any obvious clue as to what happened next.

According to reports, South Yorkshire Police informed Kerry Needham that they would no longer continue investigating the case, as responsibility is being transferred to the Greek authorities, citing a lack of time and resources.

The development sparked a reaction from Ben’s mother, who stated: “This news is devastating. The case will now pass exclusively to the Greek authorities.”

Speaking to the Mirror, she said she was informed of the decision during a video call with the police team investigating the case, adding: “For almost 35 years we have fought every single day to keep Ben’s case alive, to find answers and to make sure he is never forgotten.”

At the same time, she expressed fears that the investigation in Greece had not substantially progressed in the past, saying that “if this happens, it feels like I have to give up the search for Ben.”

For its part, South Yorkshire Police said it remains available to assist the Greek authorities should new evidence emerge and that it continues to support Ben’s mother. However, after 35 years, it said procedures now need to be reassessed.

Little Ben had been left in the care of his grandparents at a farmhouse in Kos while his mother was working at a hotel. The child was playing outside the house, but at around 2:30 p.m. it was discovered that he had vanished without a trace.

At first, the family believed he may have wandered off with a relative, but it soon became clear that this was not the case, leading to an immediate mobilization and extensive searches in the area.

Since then, the case has repeatedly drawn the attention of authorities in both Greece and the UK, with theories, investigations, and witness testimonies emerging over the years, though no definitive answer has ever been given regarding the child’s fate.

Kerry Needham remains convinced that her son is still alive and may have been abducted, stressing that she will continue the search for as long as it takes.