Kerry Needham’s world shattered on July 24, 1991, when her 21-month-old son Ben vanished from a family holiday on the Greek island of Kos. Left playing outside a farmhouse while his grandparents renovated, Ben disappeared within minutes. No trace has ever been found, launching one of the UK’s longest-running missing child investigations. Now, in a raw interview, Kerry, 53 and living in Turkey, reveals the one time she truly believed she’d located her son alive — only for multiple DNA tests to crush that hope.

In 2015, a message arrived via her Facebook page “Help Find Ben Needham.” A work colleague in northern Greece reached out on behalf of a man named Alexis, who suspected he’d been stolen as a child. Alexis had no early photos, no knowledge of his birthplace, and bore a striking resemblance to age-progressed images of Ben: blonde hair, blue eyes — features rare in his dark-haired, dark-eyed family with Romani heritage. Kerry’s heart raced. “I know it sounds really strange, it was like I’d found him,” she recalled. “He felt the same… The connection was just unreal – he was Ben.”

Convinced, Kerry boarded a flight to Greece with her mother Christine. Using a translator, they met Alexis face-to-face. The bond intensified. “He was amazing,” Kerry said. “I was certain.” To confirm, they arranged private blood tests and flew her daughter Leighanna out for a sibling DNA comparison. For three weeks, they spent time together while awaiting results. Kerry saw likenesses to herself and Leighanna everywhere.

The tests told a different story. An initial toothbrush sample, sent to South Yorkshire Police, returned negative. Doubting possible tampering, Kerry pursued more: four separate tests, including blood and mouth swabs flown back to the UK. All confirmed Alexis was not Ben. “We had a connection, it was strange,” Kerry admitted. “He felt like he was Ben… but he just wasn’t and it tore me apart.” The experience proved “soul destroying” for both. She questioned logistics but ultimately accepted the science. “I had to go ‘you can’t do this to yourself anymore… you can’t let your emotions run away with you’.”

Despite the pain, Kerry and Alexis stayed in touch via social media. “I would’ve been so proud if he’d have been Ben,” she said. “I’m so proud of him for what he’s achieved… He’s just a really lovely man. I’ll hold him close to my heart for the rest of my life.” Among dozens of claimants over the years, this was the only one that truly convinced her. Since then, she’s guarded her emotions. “I can’t put myself through that again… it’s too painful… these days it’s more like an elimination process.”

The Ben Needham case began with chaos on Kos. The family raised the alarm quickly, but initial Greek police efforts yielded little. South Yorkshire Police took over UK-side coordination, with Greek authorities reopening in 2011. In 2016, police theorized Ben died accidentally, crushed by a digger operated by local Konstantinos “Dino” Barkas (who died in 2015). Excavations at the farmhouse and nearby landfill removed over 800 tonnes of soil; items like a sandal and toy car surfaced, with blood traces tested. Forensics in 2018 disproved links to Ben. Kerry disputes this theory: “My heart stands with the abduction… so many things don’t make sense… Until they prove it with evidence, Ben is still a missing person.”

Abduction remains her focus, supported by 1990s reports of Greek child trafficking rings targeting fair-haired Western children for illegal adoptions, often to the US. Eyewitness accounts from 1991 described a boy matching Ben at Kos airport that day. Later sightings include a blonde English-speaking boy on Corfu in 2021 and others claiming Ben lived with a Greek family.

Today, Kerry awaits results from a new lead: a man in the US contacted via his partner, sharing photos showing “uncanny” resemblance to Ben and age-progressions. He agreed to DNA testing but seeks privacy. Samples will route through Interpol, a process taking weeks. Kerry initially suspected a hoax when contact briefly dropped but relief followed resumption. “The next step is to hopefully obtain a DNA sample… we are grateful things are moving forward.”

Three claimants emerged last year alone, including a Dane in 2024 — all negative. Kerry supports those coming forward, recognizing their trauma. “I try to be as supportive as I can… It must be really traumatic for them.” She funds much of the search herself, recently appealing for donations to escalate the case. “For nearly 35 years, my family and I have carried the weight… With your help, I can keep going.”

South Yorkshire Police remain involved, forwarding leads like the US man. No arrests, no body, no closure after nearly 35 years. Kerry stays resolute: “In my mind, Ben is a missing person and I’ll do what I can to find him.” In quiet moments, she prays: “please God, let it be him.” Her unyielding hope endures amid heartbreak, false dawns, and endless waiting — a mother’s love refusing to fade.