Police probing the disappearance of Annie McCarrick are expected to refocus their search for the American student after the case was upgraded to a murder investigation.
Tragic Long Island native Annie, vanished without a trace at the age of 27 after telling pals she was heading for a walk in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, on March 26, 1993.
Now it has emerged a man who lived in the same neighbourhood as Annie – Sandymount in Dublin 4 – has been identified as a suspect in her killing.
READ MORE: Ireland weather timeline as Met Eireann gives interesting verdict on Easter bank holiday weekend
The male has not been arrested but sources indicated gardai are building a case against him while keeping “an open mind” in the murder investigation.
Sandymount is now the main geographical focus of the investigation moving away from the theory that Annie was last seen at Johnny Fox’s pub in Glencullen, Co Dublin.
A source told the Irish Sunday Mirror new searches and digs are likely and may begin in a matter of days or weeks.
The source said: “Some significant information has come forward which has seen the case being upgraded from a missing persons case to a murder.
“In 2018, the case of Deirdre Jacobs was upgraded to murder and searches of land took place after that in October 2021.
“The same could happen soon in Annie’s case.
“They have already earmarked certain areas of interest which they want to look at.”
Retired cold case detective Alan Bailey said he was hopeful the case could finally be solved after all these years.
Mr Bailey, who helped search for Ireland’s missing women for 13 years as part of Operation Trace, said reported sightings of Annie on the No 44 bus to Enniskerry and at Johnny Fox’s were taken in good faith and seemed genuine.
He added: “These were the only definitive sightings and we had to go with it and investigate those leads.
“There were always a number of suspects in the case.
“There may be someone who couldn’t come forward at the time who has come forward now.
“If there is a development in the case it is something I would certainly welcome.
“Any unsolved case is something you regret, you’re leaving the job knowing there are still questions.”
Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll told a press hearing last week how he had recently visited Annie’s mother Nancy McCarrick in New York.
He said: “I want to speak to any person who met, spoke with or had any interaction with Annie McCarrick on the 26th March 1993 or subsequently.
“There are person or persons, who have information on the disappearance of Annie McCarrick and her murder on or about the 26th March 1993 and who haven’t yet spoken to gardai or who may have already spoken to gardai but were not in a position to tell everything that they know at that time.”
READ NEXT:
April Fool's Day pranks and jokes to play on your family - from simple texts to frozen breakfast
Paul O'Grady 'died in his bed' as friend shares details of final moments
Alleged Hutch lieutenant tells CAB he's unemployed sweet shop owner
'Eye-catching' bets put RTE's Doireann Garrihy in the picture for Late Late job
Student refuses to go back to school after being sent home for 'lingerie' outfit
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
