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Community shows their support for Aisling's family - Source: Close Up -
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Whether it was her age and innocence, or just the unusual circumstances in which she went missing, the suburb of Henderson really felt for Aisling Symes, and they weren't the only ones.
There were emotional appeals, TV ads and an overwhelming public response to the Police 0800 number.
But on Monday night, as the search for the toddler reached its sad end, the scene on the street outside where her body was found was just as bizarre as the toddler's initial disappearance .
The police had been acting unusually for a few hours. At 4.30pm, we'd been due to interview the head of the investigation but the media briefing was cancelled at the very last minute. Two hours later, as we cleaned up and cleared out from a live cross at Aisling's church, a helicopter circled us from above. The chopper was low and the sky was clear; it was unmistakably 'Eagle' the Auckland Police helicopter. As we headed back to the office, we detoured along the streets from where Aisling disappeared and the helicopter kept hovering above.
A few hours later those streets were edged by a group of curious neighbours. The helicopter had moved on, but a police scene guard stood staunch and tight-lipped at the end of a long driveway, with a fire engine parked nearby. We'd seen flashes of heavy machinery in the property's backyard, and although the search team were shrouded by trees and fading light, there was little doubt detectives had made their breakthrough.
Sporadically, forensic officers and detectives pulled up and headed down the drive. From the street we could see lights and a tarpaulin, but their exact work remained a secret. Every now and then, firemen would lumber back out to their truck, carrying construction and cutting equipment. With every glimpse of a search worker, the pool of neighbours grew a little larger.
Media at the scene were frantic. Radio reporters dialled in their reports, as we set up our satellite live system. I repeatedly rang the police media liaison, to clarify what was going on. At first, he denied officers were even at the address, but as darkness set in and the street lights flicked on, media were told there'd soon be an update.
What began as a few curious neighbours, was now a full-grown crowd.
I have no idea how it happened, or how it happened so quickly, but there were hundreds of people gathered on the streets. There were kids on bikes, adults peering over fences, crowds pushing and squeezing to get a better look. The pack oozed anticipation.
Most were worried - they had messages of support for the Symes family. Many had helped with the search and all of them were eager for a happy ending.
Unfortunately of course, that wasn't to be.
As Inspector Gary Davey arrived at the address, the community crushed around him. He wasn't just addressing the microphones and cameras, he was directly speaking to hundreds of emotional, concerned people. As he lowered his cap and cleared his throat, the buzz of that crowd went completely silent.
They stayed late. Some people lit candles and cried. Others just
sat on a grass verge staring. There were no more kids on bikes,
just words of comfort for each other and for
Aisling's family .
A funeral service will be held for Aisling at 11am, Friday,
16 October, at the Ranui Baptist Church. While the funeral service
is primarily a time for Aisling's family and friends, it will be
open to the public. The family ask however that mourners
respect their privacy and grief.
