The discovery of more clothing fragments down an Avoca mine is giving the family of a missing Maryborough boy increased confidence they are looking in the right place for his remains.
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A piece of a cardigan sleeve and elastic from boy’s underwear were found this week during the extensive search of the disused Morning Star for the body of Terry Floyd, who disappeared, believed murdered, more than 40 years ago.
Both items are parts of clothing believed to have been worn by the 12-year-old. It is strongly believed his body was dumped down the Avoca mine on or around June 28, 1975.
The latest findings follow the discovery last month of a child’s shoe at the bottom of the mine. The shoe, also believed to be worn by Terry the day he disappeared, was found wedged underneath tonnes of gravel and cement dumped down the Avoca mine.
Last year a silver chain necklace, similar to the one 12-year-old Terry was wearing when he vanished, was found 42 metres down the mine.
Terry’s brother Daryl, who has spent almost a decade and more than $100,000 looking for the remains, said the latest find gave him hope he was looking in the right place for his brother’s remains.
“In recent weeks we have been screening every bit of dirt that comes out (of the mine) and during the screening process we found these latest items,” Mr Floyd said.
The piece of woolen material, believed to be the sleeve of child’s cardigan, also featured fish bone stitching, which was popular in the 1970s. While the piece of material is covered in dirt after years down the mine, Mr Floyd believes it is either white or cream with a distinctive cuff pattern, similar to what Terry was last seen wearing.
And after researching the 10cm piece of elastic, Mr Floyd believes it to be similar to the material used in underwear of the 1970s.
“The more and more we find, the more hope it gives me we are looking in the right place,” Mr Floyd said.
Both the scrap of material and the elastic will be handed to investigating police on Friday for forensic testing.
Terry disappeared from the corner of the Pyrenees and Sunraysia highways on June 28, 1975. In 2001, a coroner determined Terry was abducted and murdered, but his body has never been found.
Convicted paedophile Raymond Jones has been confirmed by police has a person of interest in the case.
A $1 million reward is being offered for information in the case, which has haunted the Floyd family for four decades.
Anyone with information about the Terry Floyd case can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
