The day Ben Disappeared – 24th July 1991.
Ben Needham was a 21 month old English toddler, (born 29th October 1989) when he disappeared at lunchtime on the 24th July 1991, in the village of Iraklese, on Kos Island, Greece.
At the time of his disappearance, Ben’s mother Kerry, was working at the Palm Beach Hotel, Kos.
Ben was in the care of Kerry’s mother (Christine). The Needham family at this time, lived in a caravan in a field not far from the Hotel.
The family Eddie and Christine (Ben’s grandparents) Danny and Stephen their two sons, and the family pet dog, a corgi, whose name coincidentally was also Ben. Kerry had her own Apartment nearby where she lived with Ben.
On the day Ben disappeared, as Kerry was due to go to work, she took Ben to the caravan where he was left with his family members.
Eddie and Stephen had found employment renovating a Greek farm house in the village of Ireklese. They both set off to work.
Towards lunchtime, Christine says, she decided to walk to the farmhouse, so they could all take lunch together. So Christine set off with Ben in his pushchair, Danny walking alongside and they were accompanied by their Corgi dog. It is known that Ben had with him on this day, two or three toy metal Dinky cars.
During the walk Christine says at at 6 mins 30 seconds in the documentary – Somebody Knows, Ben wet his shorts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32xqT0mlXdo
On arrival at the farmhouse, Christine says she washed the shorts and hung them to dry on a tree, just outside the Farmhouse backdoor. Christine stated she did not have a spare nappy or underpants, so Ben was left wearing, shoes (notice Christine says shoes), socks white socks and a little green shirt – at 6 mins 55 seconds in the documentary – Somebody Knows,
The family together with the Greek owner, took lunch inside the farmhouse kitchen, which was just the other side of the Farmhouse door, where Ben’s shorts had been hung to dry. As you can see in the photograph, a distance of approximately twelve feet.
After lunch, Stephen said that he was going to get ‘chips and beer.’ Ben at this time was playing outside. As Stephen went to ride off on his moped, he says Ben wanted to go with him on the bike. Stephen says he told Ben no, and to go back to grandma. Stephen left on his moped. 7 minutes 22 seconds – Somebody Knows.
Not long after Stephen had left, Christine says, she thought Ben had gone quiet, ‘better go and check.’ It was at this point that they realised Ben was missing.
Christine says she walked along the dead end road, whilst Eddie searched in the garden area of the Farmhouse. Christine said she expected to find Ben playing with a lizard or something. 8 minutes 32 seconds – Somebody Knows.
Time wise, Ben disappeared lunchtime to early afternoon.
In this documentary, Eddie says that they thought Stephen must have taken Ben. He also stated: ‘We knew Stephen wouldn’t have taken Ben without telling us first.’
Just before 7pm Eddie went to Kerry’s flat. He found Stephen taking a shower. Stephen says his Father ‘knocked on the shower door’ and asked if he had Ben. Stephen replied no.
At some point after this, Ben’s disappearance was reported to the local Kos Police. At around 10pmKerry who was still at the Palm Beach Hotel, was informed that Ben was missing.
Surprisingly, in the documentary at 9 minutes and 50 seconds – Somebody Knows regarding Ben’s missing cars, Christine says she ‘never thought anymore about them.’
The Gypsy theory.
For almost the last thirty years, there has been a theory that Gypsies may have taken Ben. Originally it had been suggested that Ben had wondered on to the dead end road and been picked up from there by a Gypsy. This is raised as a theory at 16 minutes 30 seconds – Somebody Knows.
It is extremely difficult to comprehend how this theory could ever have been considered in this way. The critical problem which ends that theory is this.
1. If Ben was abducted in the road by anyone, why would they then risk going up to the Farmhouse, and remove Ben’s shorts from the tree and pick up his toy cars? There would have been an extreme risk of being seen and being caught by the Needham family. Also if they did approach the Farmhouse, Ben the Corgi dog was there, and Danny Needham told me in 2003 when we both visited the Farmhouse, that the dog would bark at everyone. On top this according to South Yorkshire Police the digger driver was working in the area right outside the Farmhouse.
The Digger Driver Konstantinos ‘Dino’ Barkas theory.
In 2012 as a result of information received, suggesting Ben may have been accidentally killed by a Digger Driver operating a heavy excavation plant in the immediate area on the day Ben disappeared, South Yorkshire Police conducted a search on Kos. They returned in 2016 and undertook further extensive excavations of tonnes of soil, at site one and site two. They found nothing which could be identified as being belonging to Ben, and extensive tests on a blood/DNA sample, proved not to be Ben’s. At a closing press conference at the conclusion of the dig, Detective Inspector Jon Cousins stated: ‘ It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing. The recovery of this item, and its location, further adds to my belief that material was removed from the farmhouse on or shortly after the day Ben disappeared.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sruI4VT3umY&t=47s
I voiced my serious concerns about this theory for the following reasons.
1. SYP stated that they believed items had been removed from the Farmhouse, on or shortly after the day Ben disappeared. Perhaps I should not assume, but I believe what the Police were referring to was Ben shorts and toy cars. If this is the case, why would the Digger Driver ever want to remove such items?
2. Eddie, Ben’s grandfather apparently spoke to Barkas and also inspected his Digger machine. As far as I am aware Eddie never raised any concerns about Barkas with the police.
3. If Barkas was responsible for the accidental death of Ben, why did he hold on to the Digger machine for eighteen years, before he sold it in part exchange for a newer digger? I think it is reasonable to conclude, most people confronted by such a sad accident, would want to dispose of such a machine (evidence) as quickly as possible, certainly not wait eighteen years. SYP believe even now after all these years, that there could be value to the investigation, if they could locate the old digger.
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