Police confident in Coober Pedy body search
Coober Pedy locals are desperate for police to find the remains of missing teenager Karen Williams, saying they cannot cope with another failed attempt to crack the case which has haunted the town for 23 years.
Police today intensified the painstaking search at an old mine site a few kilometres from the town’s main street.
The search is taking longer than expected because the mine shaft is two metres deeper than originally thought, but police say they are just as confident of finding Karen’s remains.
That confidence is shared by some locals who are already planning a prayer service for the weekend if she is found.
Police have also brought in a large blower to speed up the process.
“The fact it’s taking a long time isn’t worrying, we’re still positive,” Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.
Locals said the town is still reeling from Karen’s disappearance in 1990.
They hope a discovery will finally give them peace.
“Her father’s not here to see this, but he might be up there with her now,” local Andrew Dingaman said.
Wanda Goldberg vividly remembers the day the 16-year-old went missing after a night out with friends.
“At that time the whole community was emotional,” she said.
“There were a lot of accusations and some people really suffered a lot.”
The search will continue tomorrow.
