A former Wellington business owner and now washing machine repairman has become the focus of the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrell after police discovered the man had carried out work at the home from which the toddler vanished.
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Homicide detectives have questioned William Harrie Spedding, 63, and raided his home and business address on the state’s mid-north coast after he allegedly gave a quote to fix a washing machine at the Kendall home where William was last seen.
It is understood Mr Spedding had been at the home of William’s grandmother just four days before the three-year-old vanished on September 12 last year.
He has made four posts on his Facebook page about the missing toddler in the past four months including one on December 2 saying “Don’t give up looking....” and another five days later asking “Where is he?”.
Mr Spedding and his wife, Margaret Spedding, who live with a number of children in their Bonny Hills home, took refuge at a close friend’s house at nearby Lakeview on Tuesday night while police seized a number of items from their property and a unit at Laurieton.
The friend said the grandfather was “absolutely devastated” he had been questioned by police and told he was a suspect.
“Well he’s very, you can imagine, he is very, very distressed,” the friend said.
“Look he’s always been a gentlemen, there is not too many people like him. He’d do anything for Margaret [his wife].”
Mr Spedding returned briefly to the house he was staying at on Teal Close at 4pm on Wednesday but drove away when he saw media outside his friend’s home
“The kids love him, he’s magic,” the friend said.
“He does anything for them, every Saturday they both, they have three young, very sporty children – every weekend they take the kids to sport.”
Officers from the Department of Family and Community Services yesterday visited the home where Mr Spedding is staying.
The children who also live at the Bonny Hills home are believed to be staying with friends in a nearby town.
The close friend said Mr Spedding had driven to William’s grandmother’s house on Monday, September 8, walked down the side of her home, saw the washing machine and said he would need to order a part and would come back.
The friend said the washing machine part arrived on the Thursday afternoon but the following day when Mr Spedding got in touch with the family, he was told he would have to carry out the repair another time.
Mr Spedding owned the Speddo’s business in Percy Street, Wellington where he sold white goods and furniture.
He sold his business interests and went to the North Coast of NSW to be with his family a few years ago.
