Corrie McKeague’s disappearance has confounded police, transfixed amateur sleuths and sparked one of the most baffling manhunts in recent memory.
A search for missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague appears to be closing in on the area where his body could be found, his parents have said.
Officers scouring the landfill site in Milton, near Cambridge, are finding rubbish dating close to the time he was last seen on September 24 last year, the Daily Mail reports.
They began sifting through 8,000 tonnes of waste in early March and Corrie's mother Nicola Urquhart said the task could take a further four weeks.
The operation is now focused on one particular area.
Urquhart, of Dunfermline, said: "Although the search doesn't start again until Tuesday, I pray we get some news this week.
He wrote on Facebook: "They've even told us that where they're now looking, they're finding more and more mail and newspapers with dates and addresses near to the time and area where Corrie disappeared.
"While I dread the thought of finding my son here, not knowing what's happened to him is almost worse."
Urquhart said even though she believes he is at the landfill, the vehicles that were in the same area the night Corrie disappeared are still being investigated.
She said: "Given the information that the police have give me and stuff that I know I would say I'm just like the police - absolutely amazed that Corrie has not been found yet in the landfill site.
"All of those vehicles are still being looked at because he must have gone in one of them.
"None of the vehicles have been ruled out completely at this point, they've not been able to say that none of them have had anything to do with it completely so they are still carrying out enquiries."
She added: "It's still my belief that Corrie will be found at that landfill, that's what I think and that's what police think and they do still have another four weeks of searching potentially.
Corrie McKeague on CCTV. Photo / Supplied
"Although it's impossible waiting for the landfill to be searched we will manage."
Corrie, 23, from Fife, a Royal Air Force Regiment gunner, has been missing since a night out in Bury St Edmunds near his base at RAF Honington.
He was last seen in the early hours of September 24 walking into a loading bay known as the The Horseshoe which is used as a bin store.
A bin lorry linked to his disappearance was initially thought to have collected an 11kg load but was later found to have been carrying more than 100kg.
Six month search for Corrie
September 23, 2016: Mr McKeague leaves his air base and heads into Bury St Edmunds for a night out with friends.
September 24, 2016: At 3:08am he sent a message to a friend and, around 15 minutes later, was seen entering a loading bay area behind a Greggs bakery. He was not seen leaving the area.
September 26, 2016: He fails to turn up to parade and RAF Honington.
September 27, 2016: Police appeal through the media to anyone who knows where he is. They release CCTV images of him in Bury St Edmunds.
October 4, 2016: It emerges that Mr McKeague's mobile phone had been tracked moving 12 miles north west to Barton Mills, the site of the rubbish tip.
November 15, 2016: Police close part of the A14 while officers carry out a roadside search.
December 8, 2016: A crowdfunding campaign is launched to pay for private investigators. It raises £20,000 in two days.
December 17, 2016: A search organised by Mrs Urquhart takes place at an area of forest near RAF Honington.
January 9, 2016: Corrie's girlfriend, April Oliver, reveals she is pregnant with his baby. She didn't know at the time he went missing but found out weeks later.
January 18, 2017: The airman's mother revealed that he had joined an online swingers' club before he went missing.
January 22, 2017: Mr McKeague's mother leads search near the A11 in Mildenhall and admits: 'This is hard because I know I am looking for a body.'
February 10, 2017: Police start work at the landfill site where mobile phone records suggest Mr McKeague may have been taken.
March 1, 2017: Police arrest 26-year-old traffic dispatcher for waste management firm Biffa on suspicion of attempting to pervert to course of justice in relation to Corrie's disappearance. He is later told he faces no further action.
March 7, 2017: Police reveal the weight of a bin lorry linked to the investigation was mistaken recorded as more than 180lb lighter than it actually was.
March 28, 2017: Police confirmed they had traced one of two remaining potential witnesses, but she was not able to add anything further to assist the investigation.
April 3, 2017: Ms Urquhart said she was remaining 'positive' as the landfill site search entered its fifth week.
