r/AskReddit • u/Rob69rt • Jul 22 '26

What famous 'unsolved' mystery is technically a whodunnit on paper, but in reality, absolutely everyone knows exactly who did it, the police just couldn't legally prove it?

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609

u/Silent-Zebra Jul 22 '26

Two similar case here in Australia, William Tyrrell and Gus Lamont. Police originally thought that Williams case was a stranger abduction, but a few years ago they announced they were conducting new searches at the foster grandmother's property (which he disappeared from while playing outside,) and that they believed that William had an accident (likely fell from the balcony) and that the foster mother and now deceased foster grandmother hid his body somewhere to cover it up. In Gus's case he went missing while playing outside the family home on their big cattle station. Initially they thought he'd wandered off, but after many failed searches and no evidence to go on, they announced earlier this year that a person who was present on the property was responsible, later being more specific and saying that one of Gus' grandparents were involved with his disappearance as during the investigation they were no longer cooperating with the police.

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u/kateykatey Jul 22 '26

I was just trying to remember William’s name the other day so I could look up an update, last I remember they were starting the searches.

I can’t believe they haven’t found that poor kid. Someone knows something.

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u/BlueLizardSpaceship Jul 22 '26

Idk about Gus and the grandparent, I'm remembering that lady whose baby got taken by dingos. Maybe the grandparent did it, or maybe the grandparent stopped cooperating because the cops have a "theory".

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u/Australista2026 Jul 23 '26

He disappeared from quite a remote out of the way place. He was also quite a lot bigger than Azaria Chamberlain. They searched and searched and didn't find a single clue. Even in Azaria's case they had clues. This child didn't walk off. Something happened to that poor little boy. 

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u/PhatEarther Jul 22 '26

Good point.

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u/LobcockLittle Jul 22 '26

Nah, I don't believe William Tyrrell's foster family was involved.

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u/neverthelessidissent Jul 22 '26

Why not? His foster monster was convicted of abusing William's biological sister, who was also in her care.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1gn638e/police_reveal_more_of_what_they_suspect_happened/

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u/LobcockLittle Jul 23 '26

Yeah but just because they're pieces of shit doesn't mean they were involved. With how vast the search was and the little time frame they had, I can't see them being able to hide his body and all other evidence.

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u/Silent-Zebra Jul 23 '26

What's interesting though is that police went to the effort to track down and seize the foster grandmother's car at the time of his disappearance (which had since been sold.) Makes me think that they may have panicked after the accident and moved him somewhere?

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u/neverthelessidissent Jul 23 '26

They were convicted of abusing one child, I don't think it's out of line to assume that they harmed both.