VIC: Foster parents of baby James issue statement

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-1999
VIC: Foster parents of baby James issue statement

MELBOURNE, Feb 13 AAP - The foster parents of Victorian toddler James Dean Sette, whose
body was believed to have been found in a dam in southern New South Wales yesterday, have
described him as a "remarkable, strong-spirited little boy".

Fiona Strahan and Jack Gilding also extended their love to the birth family of 15-month-old
James, who they asked the media to describe as James Jasper Strahan.

"We will always love him. We will always miss him. It amazes us that he could touch so many
lives and bring so much joy and love to us, our friends and family in such a short life," they
said in a statement.

"Our whole family extends our love to the family of (his birth mother) Julie Sette - their
pain must also be intense."

The body of a child believed to be James was found just after 5pm last night at the edge of
a farm dam, 20km west of Moama on the New South Wales and Victorian border.

James went missing last Sunday when Julie Jean Sette, 31, allegedly took him from
Daylesford in central Victoria during an arranged visit.

Ms Sette, who had allegedly driven the boy to northern Victoria or southern NSW, has been
in police custody since her arrest on Monday, when she appeared in Echuca Magistrates Court in
northern Victoria charged with false imprisonment.

James had been in the care of his adoptive parents, who were just six weeks away from
formally adopting him, for the past 13 months.

Ms Strahan and Mr Gilding said James had lived most of his life as James Jasper Strahan in
the central Victorian town of Daylesford, where he was much loved in the community.

They said it had become clear to them that the public concern over James' welfare since his
disappearance had been "crucial" in finding him.

"We would like to thank the media and the public for their strong support - we also thank
the police, who have done a magnificent job," they said.

"Without all that, we could still be waiting."

New South Wales police, now in charge of the investigation, and Victorian police were today
preparing to brief the coroner after police divers this morning searched the dam, a NSW police
spokesperson said.

The child's body was taken to Albury Hospital and later transported to the Glebe Morgue in
Sydney for a post mortem examination today.

AAP jmr/wjf/gl/de

KEYWORD: CHILD FOSTERS

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