Gardaí have upgraded the investigation into the disappearance of toddler Daniel Aruebose, who went missing in Dublin over four years ago, to a homicide investigation.
Tomorrow would have marked Daniel's eighth birthday and gardaí have renewed their appeal to anyone with information to contact them.
Detectives now believe that Daniel, whose skeletal remains were discovered earlier this year on waste ground in Donabate, died because of the actions of another person or persons.
They have interviewed a number of people but so far no arrests have been made.
The investigation into the disappearance of Daniel, which began as a missing person's case, has now been upgraded to a criminal investigation, one of homicide.
The child was last seen alive at his home at the Gallery apartments in Donabate over four and a half years ago when he was just three-years-old.
Daniel's death and secret burial had been concealed until a check on social welfare payments first raised concerns at the Department of Social Protection for his safety and whereabouts.
The department alerted Tusla who contacted gardaí, who then commenced a search of waste ground near his home in Donabate last September.
The skeletal remains of the boy were discovered after two and a half weeks and he was formally identified on 17 September.
Daniel's foster family who looked after him for the first year and half of his life have been devastated by his disappearance and say they never forgot him and always missed him.
The results of the post-mortem examination were inconclusive as to the cause of Daniel's death. His remains are still with the coroner and have not yet been released for burial.
A number of persons of interest have been identified and spoken to as part of the investigation but so far no one has been arrested.
Gardaí have said that as a result of their inquiries and information available to them, they have now commenced a homicide investigation.
Detectives now believe that the child was killed because of the actions of a person or persons and did not die from natural causes.
The change in the designation of the investigation is highly significant as it releases a number of powers to gardaí that up to now have not been available to them.
As this is now a criminal investigation, gardaí can seek warrants in court to carry out searches, they also can arrest suspects and interview them under caution.
Gardaí have urged people not to assume that they already possess information they may hold, or that any detail is too small or insignificant.
Gardaí have said that the investigation team will determine the relevance of any information provided.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Swords Garda Station on 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Gardaí have also said that they continue to keep Daniel's family informed of all developments in this ongoing criminal investigation.
