Bill Hayes

Bill Hayes was born in Northern Ireland and later spent part of his childhood in London’s East End. He joined the Merchant Navy at age fifteen, going on to enlist in the UK Armed Forces where he earned the famous British Airborne Paratroop wings. Migrating to Australia, he also joined the Australian Army Reserve, where he was commissioned as an officer. In his civilian career, he joined the Australian Federal Police and was posted to Woomera, South Australia. After a couple of years, he joined the South Australia Police (SAPOL), serving as a uniform patrol officer and then in the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) as a detective. Later, Bill joined the Major Crime Squad, where in the 1980s, he was tasked with reviewing statements pertaining to the case of the missing Beaumont children. After fifteen years’ service, Bill left to set up his own successful private investigation company, where he remains. He was approached by Stuart Mullins in 2008 to assist with investigating Harry Phipps and his possible link to the Beaumont children’s abduction. Bill is happily married with three children and four grandchildren and now lives on the south coast of South Australia.