The Mystery of Ben Needham

Didn't realise it was that hot.

110F is a ridiculously high temperature for a 21 month old to be in.

I feel ill just thinking about it! 

It sounds utter madness. Do we know how the three of them usually spent their days?

Freedom wrote:I feel ill just thinking about it! 

It sounds utter madness. Do we know how the three of them usually spent their days?

So do I - it`s a wonder he didn`t die of heat stroke - and her !

I agree that if he was alive he would have realised by now it was him particularly in view of the birthmark.

I should imagine that exposure to that sort of prolonged heat for a 21 month old could and would be fatal.

Then we're told that he was playing out in this heat.

I wonder if that's the answer - he died of heat exhaustion and the family felt they were to blame. We're still left with the question though of what happened to Ben's body.

There were also the guys working on the roof

The guys working on the roof were Ben's younger Uncle, His Grandfather and the Kypreos chap who owned the place.

I'm assuming this Kypreos chap was thoroughly questioned and investigated.......

I presume you mean the older uncle - though the family does seem to have been a bit careless about safety!

However, it's been posted before that the older uncle had left the site (no tools?) and it was assumed that he had taken Ben with him.

No - the younger Uncle, Danny (aged 11).

He was working up on the roof with his Dad and the Owner. Stephen the older Uncle was already off on his bike.

Working on the roof is dangerous

Yes, I think we can take that as read.

I really find it hard to believe that Stephen would have taken Ben with him on his bike without a word to anyone - not even see you later, we're off now.

Andrew wrote:No - the younger Uncle, Danny (aged 11).

He was working up on the roof with his Dad and the Owner. Stephen the older Uncle was already off on his bike.

Danny was there, but not working on the roof. I don't know what he did really, he just came along together with Christine. There's no mention of what Danny did whilst he was there.

Dad and the owner were working on the roof. They'd send Stephen off early to have the rest of the day off because the suppliers of materials hadn't shown up.

Snipped:

About an hour later, thinking Stephen had gone to the caravan instead of coming back to the farmhouse, or had gone to Kerry's flat, Christine walked back to Paradisi, while Eddie, Danny and Kypreos stayed working on the roof.

I stand corrected. Hadn't seen that.
That is irresponsible letting a 11 y/o work on the roof.

Yes, very irresponsible indeed. Just like exposing a 21 month old to 110f heat.

So what's the relationship with the owner then... He allows them to stay rent free for renovating the place and looking after it when he goes away...

So they must of known him prior then, you'd think, for them to move out there...

Is he still around... are the Needhams still in contact with him....

And have the English Police ever spoken to him...

Eddie met the owner in a bar. The owner's wife had inherited the farmhouse and wanted it doing up. So the owner offered the work to Eddie.

The owner moved to Australia after Ben's disappearance, to live with his son.
He died 3 days before the British investigation in 2014. He'd been suffering heart problems for years.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/ben-needham-dig-police-dogs-1388274

From the book:

"Dad and Stephen had found building work on some of the many half-finished properties in the area."

....

"Fortunately for the family, Dad and Stephen won a new contract at the same time Mum was handing in her notice. Dad's sociable nature had so far been responsible for getting the plot for the caravan, acquiring all the kit for Ben from friends and getting my apartment at a knockdown price. Now he had met man in a bar who had a proposition. His wife's family had a rundown farmhouse up in the hills in a village called Iraklis. It was her dream to renovate the property to its pre-war glory. And it was her husband's lot to do whatever she wanted.

The man was called Michaelis Kypreos and he really was a good sort. As well as providing jobs for our two men, he said Dad could move the caravan up to the site and take advantage of the free water and electricity connections that ran to the dilapidated cottage. Not only would they be getting a wage and free utilities, they wouldn't have to pay rent on the premises - and they'd never have an excuse for being late for work."

Thanks for that, Seahorse. I didn't realise that.

So how long after Ben vanished, did he upsticks and move to Australia.. And did his wife go with him do you know?

Slightly getting reminded of the plot in the TV show, 'The Missing'. (It was on a couple of years ago and there's a thread on it here somewhere).

'Boy tragically has an accident. Local at fault but with local help covers it up. Boy's family are unaware of anything and presume abduction'

.... well along that sort of gist anyway. Could be well off though.


Here's the topic about that programme.


https://maddiemccannmystery.forumotion.co.uk/t231-the-missing-echoes-the-case-of-madeleine-mccann?highlight=the+missing

Andrew wrote:Thanks for that, Seahorse. I didn't realise that.

So how long after Ben vanished, did he upsticks and move to Australia.. And did his wife go with him do you know?

I can't find any info on that, nor any trace of him in Australia. Of course he could be called Michael Kypreos there and there are a few of those in Australia, but the age doesn't seem to match. Maybe his son is also called Michael?

Can't find his wife's name either.

What interests me most is why aren't there any aerial photographs of the farmhouse. It would be great to find an exact location of the place, so we can get a feel for it. There are other buildings around, also mentioned in the book. Why didn't the Greek owner, knock on everyone's door asking if they'd seen Ben? He spoke the lingo. Yet they just assumed he'd gone off with Stephen.

Thanks Seahorse. Not had chance to have a proper look. Yes strange about not being any aerial photo's then. Nothing on google earth.. (if knew the exact location that is).

The more I think of this owner chap then the more 'fishy' it gets.

Just my thoughts.

More alarm bells:

"Ben loved the place immediately. For a start, the fields in the distance had goats and cattle. Also, with no doors or furniture in the way, he could whizz around the place with his cars while the men worked outside on the guttering. Best of all, Dad and Michaelis had bags and boxes of the most exotic-looking tools. As soon as one of them stepped up a ladder, Ben dived into their kit and took out a clamp or a spirit level or trowel. Mum was never more than a few feet behind, always reminding Ben, 'Put that down. It's not yours.'
Michaelis had a different response.
'Christine, let the boy play. As long as it's not sharp, I'm happy for him to have it.'
The typical response of the laid-back Greeks where children were concerned."

Hmmm, what about nails, screws, bolts, that he could stick in his mouth?

They were working on the guttering?

Here's a picture of the farmhouse in 1991:

It looks as if it needs a bit of work

Not that it wouldn't still have been dangerous, but I imagine the roof would be flat as most stone houses are in the Med.

Good find S.

Doesn't even look like the roof has been built yet. Assuming this photo was taken before the Needhams were staying there and not whilst they were. Not exactly child friendly is it.

Yes, alarming indeed about what the owner said about the tools etc.

I would like to know the timescale of Ben vanishing and him on a plane to Oz, I must say.

Not got time now but will see if can find anything later on this eve.

Someone here was mentioning birthmarks etc the other day....

Here's what was HFB said a few hours ago:

https://www.facebook.com/helpfindben/posts/1254191131275959