Police say a suspect has been identified over the disappearance of a four-year-old boy who went missing in the South Australian outback. Gus Lamont was last seen playing outside his home on a remote sheep station near Yunta, about 300km (186 miles) from Adelaide, on 27 September. His grandmother left him alone for about half an hour before checking on him, only to find the boy missing, prompting one of the largest land and air searches in the state's history.
Police stated that a person residing on the property has been identified as a suspect; however, the boy's parents are not under investigation. In the days and weeks after Gus was reported missing, police conducted extensive searches covering an area roughly twice the size of Edinburgh. By late October, search efforts were wound down, and a 12-member taskforce was appointed to continue the investigation.
This taskforce reviewed previous statements given by family members, revealing inconsistencies in the timeline of events surrounding the boy's disappearance. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke noted that a person from the Oak Park station has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with the investigation. Furthermore, the police have seized items, including a vehicle and electronic devices, from the property as part of their inquiry.
Authorities are considering multiple scenarios regarding Gus's disappearance, including the possibility that he wandered off or was abducted, but they have ruled out abduction based on the remote location of the property. Fielke emphasized the commitment to resolving the case, stating, We're all focused and determined to locate Gus and return him to his parents. Nothing is off the table as we work towards that outcome.\
Police stated that a person residing on the property has been identified as a suspect; however, the boy's parents are not under investigation. In the days and weeks after Gus was reported missing, police conducted extensive searches covering an area roughly twice the size of Edinburgh. By late October, search efforts were wound down, and a 12-member taskforce was appointed to continue the investigation.
This taskforce reviewed previous statements given by family members, revealing inconsistencies in the timeline of events surrounding the boy's disappearance. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke noted that a person from the Oak Park station has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with the investigation. Furthermore, the police have seized items, including a vehicle and electronic devices, from the property as part of their inquiry.
Authorities are considering multiple scenarios regarding Gus's disappearance, including the possibility that he wandered off or was abducted, but they have ruled out abduction based on the remote location of the property. Fielke emphasized the commitment to resolving the case, stating, We're all focused and determined to locate Gus and return him to his parents. Nothing is off the table as we work towards that outcome.\
