A man has told police he accidentally ran over and killed missing Boronia schoolgirl Siriyakorn Siriboon before dumping her body in a nearby reserve, according to reports.
Bung went missing in June, 2011 while walking a short distance to school.
The ABC reported that a 24-year-old man had been interviewed by police in August and claimed to have accidentally killed Bung.
Police searched parkland near Bung’s house in August and Old Joe’s Creek Reserve, a nearby creek bed, in October. No trace of her was found.
The local man was interviewed again in October and remains a person of interest, it was reported.
Items including a car have been seized from the man.
In October, police announced they had dismantled the taskforce created to find her Bung’s killer, but detectives continued to investigate several leads.
The number of homicide squad detectives investigating the case has not reduced, but other police, such as members of the eastern region and tactical intelligence officers, would no longer be involved.
Taskforce Puma was established in October 2011, four months after the 13-year-old vanished while walking to school in Boronia.
Detective Superintendent Tess Walsh said at the time that shutting down the specialised Puma taskforce did not mean police had given up hope of finding Bung and the person responsible for her disappearance.
She said the decision, made by crime command, had been difficult and detectives had hoped the taskforce would provide Bung’s mother, step-father and older sister with answers.
“We’ve met with Bung’s family and explained to them that the investigation is still very much active, and we remain committed to providing them with some answers,” she said.
A police spokeswoman confirmed that a 24-year-old man was arrested in August and October and released without charge on both occasions. He remains a person of interest to the investigation.
‘‘The Homicide Squad continues to investigate the disappearance of Bung and have a number of persons of interest and active lines of enquiry. As such, it’s not appropriate comment further,’’ she said.
Police chief commissioner Ken Lay told radio station 3AW on Wednesday that police were interested in several people.
He said the second person of interest was ‘‘entirely separate’’ to the man who confessed to accidentally running the teenager over and killing her.
Mr Lay said there was no indication that Bung was still alive.
‘‘I wish there was, but that’s not right. Although we can’t completely close the door on that … we’re probably in the space where we’re fearing the worst,’’ he said.
The chief commissioner confirmed police had done some testing on a car, and were still testing items gathered during the investigation that could put police in a different place in the future.
He said there were no plans to reassemble Taskforce Puma, despite the new lead.
‘‘The investigation has now been sharpened, so the Homicide Squad had picked it up,’’ Mr Lay said.‘‘I’m confident we have the resources to get done what needs to be done.’’
Detectives continue to appeal for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
