The estranged wife of a man named as a person of interest in the William Tyrrell investigation has described being questioned over the suspected abduction case as "beyond comprehension".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The woman, who has asked not to be named, found out in September last year that her husband Anthony Jones had been charged with indecently assaulting a child.
She kicked him out of the family home in Wauchope after learning of the shocking allegations.
Last week, Jones, 59, was sentenced to at least two years behind bars after pleading guilty to two charges in August.
Jones came to the attention of detectives investigating three-year-old William's disappearance after their focus turned to grandparent support groups on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Jones was once a member of the Port Macquarie-based Grandparents as Parents Again (GAPA).
Detectives interviewed Jones while he was in custody in April and questioned him about any involvement in William's disappearance.
It is understood Jones told police and family he was "out bush" collecting scrap metal on the day William went missing from Kendall.
Detectives also questioned Jones' estranged wife about his movements.
"Being questioned over what has happened over the last 12 months had been horrific and life altering," a statement released on her behalf said.
"But to now be questioned over the case of little William is beyond comprehension.
"No one has the right to separate a family like this and this little boy needs and deserves to be with his family."
Police have not suggested the woman had any involvement in William's case.
Last month police seized a white station wagon from Jones' neighbours' house for forensic examination.
It is understood police initially believed the car, which belonged to Jones' estranged wife, had been disposed of but police later learnt it had been given to neighbours.
Police received information about where it was after 60 Minutes revealed investigators were looking for two cars, a white station wagon and a grey sedan, spotted on Benaroon Drive in Kendall as William played outside.
Police were inundated with information about the case after the program, with Crime Stoppers receiving 500 calls after it aired.
They also identified 12 persons of interest as a result.
Since early this year, washing machine repairman Bill Spedding has been the only person of interest identified publicly.
Police said at the time their investigations into Mr Spedding became known that it was not a major breakthrough in the case.
His properties in both Bonny Hills and Wellington were searched and he was questioned after it emerged he had agreed to fix William's grandmother's washing machine days before the boy vanished.
However, he has continuously stated he did not go to Kendall on the day William, dressed in a Spider-Man suit, disappeared.
He released a YouTube clip last month distancing himself from the allegations: "I wish to state that I have had no involvement whatsoever in the disappearance of William Tyrrell."
While police were investigating Mr Spedding, they were led to GAPA, which they believed had members who knew Mr Spedding.
However GAPA has previously told Fairfax Media Mr Spedding had nothing to do with their organisation.
Jones and Mr Spedding knew each other from living in Wellington.
They both moved to the Mid North Coast but relatives say they weren't close.
GAPA's former president Paul John Bickford received a 16-month suspended jail term earlier this year after pleading guilty to indecently assaulting a child.
He and some of family members were also questioned in April after police revealed they were looking at possible links between William's disappearance and a paedophile ring on the Mid North Coast.
Jones' criminal history, tendered as part of his sentencing in the Port Macquarie District Court last week, detailed a lengthy rap sheet, including assault, break and enter and driving charges.
His former wife said she only learnt of the extensive criminal history after reading about it in the media.
"Charges such as this goes to show the lack of respect that he has, not only for the law, but for the people he inflicted his horrid crimes on," she said.
"The decision to remove him from the family home was an easy one.
"There was no hesitation and he will never be a part of this family again nor will he be a part of his siblings' and mother's life."
The woman said she would fight to her last breath for tougher sentencing laws for child sex offenders.
"These cretins in our society do not deserve to be a part of it and they need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law."
