Mine shaft clue could prove crucial to Victorian murder mystery
The discovery of a leather shoe in a Victorian mine shaft could provide a crucial breakthrough in the search for a schoolboy who vanished more than 40 years ago.
It is just like the pair 12-year-old Maryborough boy Terry Floyd was wearing when he vanished in 1975.
Terry was hitchhiking on the Pyrenees Highway between Avoca and Maryborough, 42 years ago, but was never seen again.
Investigations have led police to believe he was abducted and murdered.
His remains have never been found but his devoted younger brother Darryl refuses to give up the search.
Daryl has been digging at the mine intermittently for the past seven years, while his team of amateur miners have sifted through at least 30 buckets of gravel, rocks and rubbish each weekend since February.
He believes his brother's body was dumped here.
The tired and dirty piece of leather was spotted by one of Darryl's dedicated volunteers.
“It is a kid's shoe it's a size 6," he told 7 News.
"We have replica shoes on site and we've married it up beside that and it's the spitting image and spitting size of that particular shoe.
"It was gut wrenching sort of stuff. You had your heart in your mouth but it's what we're here for.
"...We're here to find his remains and to finally bring him home."
Volunteer Simon Davidson said God was on their side when they made the discovery.
"We watch everything that comes out but it was just luck and good fortune that it was there and we spotted it," he said.
Police will now analyse the shoe but Daryl Floyd is hopeful it belongs to his older brother.
"He wasn't only just my brother he was also my best mate. I made a promise to my parents that I'd never give up until I found him and we're going to keep going until that happens," he said.
No one's been convicted over Terry's disappearance despite a coroner finding he was abducted and murdered.
There's a $1 million reward for information that leads to a conviction.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.