THE homicide squad took over the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrrell shortly after he went missing but are still not completely convinced the three-year-old is dead.

The Newcastle Herald can also reveal  one of the state’s most respected homicide investigators, Detective Inspector Gary Jubelin, has taken over the lead role in the investigation just days after police searched two properties belonging to a local handyman.

Detective Inspector Jubelin, who has locked up some of the worst criminals in the state and was portrayed in an Underbelly series for his conviction of Anthony ‘‘Rooster’’ Perish, will now be the officer in charge following the retirement of Detective Inspector Hans Rupp.

Forensic analysis has continued into items seized during searches of a house and office belonging to Bill Spedding, a Bonny Hills handyman who had been inside William’s grandmother’s house at Kendall days before the boy disappeared.

Mr Spedding has denied any involvement in William’s disappearance and police have  described the raids as one of several lines of inquiry.

Police yesterday confirmed the investigation, codenamed Strike Force Rosann, was being run by the homicide squad and,  despite other reports, the specialist unit became involved in the investigation shortly after William went missing ‘‘as a matter of caution and [to] explore the possibility of human intervention’’.

‘‘Although we have grave concerns for William’s welfare, until we have conclusive evidence that William is deceased, we will be keeping our minds open to all possibilities including that he could be alive,’’ investigators said.