A Danish man has approached British police claiming to be Ben Needham, the British boy who went missing on the Greek island of Kos in 1991. South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that they have taken a DNA sample from the Danish man, which will now be compared to an existing DNA sample from Ben Needham’s family. This step has been taken to provide Ben’s family with a conclusive answer, as reported by BBC and Ekstra Bladet.
Ben Needham vanished without a trace at just 21 months old while he was on Kos with his mother and grandparents, who were in the process of renovating a property. Wednesday marked the 33rd anniversary of the young boy’s disappearance.
According to Ekstra Bladet, Ben’s mother, Kerry Needham, has already participated in three DNA tests this year as part of the ongoing investigation into the case. South Yorkshire Police previously determined that a body found in a German river last year did not belong to Ben Needham.
In a statement to BBC, South Yorkshire Police explained that they have no jurisdiction in Greece but continue to support the Greek authorities and Ben’s family in the investigation. In 2016, South Yorkshire Police concluded that Ben may have been accidentally killed while playing; however, Kerry Needham has previously stated that she believes her son is still alive and was abducted from Kos.
In 2017, a comprehensive search was conducted of the rural property where Ben’s grandparents worked, as well as the surrounding area. Police have not yet disclosed when they expect to finish their investigation into the Danish man’s DNA.
“Our thoughts are with Ben’s family, who have never given up hope of discovering the truth about what happened on July 24, 1991, and we will continue to support them in this endeavor,” a statement shared with both Ekstra Bladet and BBC read.