In a shock development to the case of missing boy Gus Lamont, A person with close ties to the household of the missing four-year-old has been identified as a suspect in his disappearance, as South Australian police formally declare the investigation a major crime.
Gus was last seen about 5pm on September 27, playing on a mound of dirt at his family’s Oak Park Station homestead, around 43 kilometres south of Yunta in South Australia’s remote north-east. He was reported missing about 30 minutes later, sparking what police say has become the largest and most intensive missing person search ever undertaken in the state.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke confirmed that a person who is not one of Gus’s parents, but has close ties to the household, is now considered a suspect after withdrawing cooperation with police.
“As a result of these inconsistencies, and investigations into them, a person… has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with us,” he said. “The person who has withdrawn their co-operation is now considered a suspect in the disappearance of Gus. “I do want to stress, however, that Gus’s parents are not suspects in his disappearance.”
No arrests have been made, and police declined to provide further details about the suspect.
Fielke said investigators had identified “inconsistencies” in the timeline of Gus’s last movements, with further discrepancies emerging following visits to the homestead on January 14 and 15. A search warrant was executed at Oak Park Station at that time, with a number of items seized, including a car, a motorbike and electronic devices.
“I anticipate there will be further searches at Oak Park Station and at several sites on an adjacent national park to locate Gus as new information and intelligence comes to hand as the investigation continues,” Fielke said.
Only three people were on the property at the time of Gus’s disappearance, police confirmed. While an arrest has not been ruled out, investigators say the case has focused on three possibilities: that Gus was abducted, that someone he knows was involved in his disappearance or suspected death, or that he wandered away from the property.
Detectives from Taskforce Horizon now have a “high level of confidence” the four-year-old did not wander off, Fielke said, and there is no evidence to suggest he was abducted.
Despite months of extensive searching, no trace of Gus has been found. Police have conducted repeated ground and air searches across a total area of 706 square kilometres, assisted by drones, mounted officers, aircraft and 80 Australian Defence Force personnel. Around 163 SA Police officers have been deployed during the operation.
“The foot search has been unprecedented and the resources that have been used have been significant,” Fielke said. “We’ve had deployments to Oak Park Station for over 20 days as part of that operation and there’s been at least eight separate searches conducted.”
A three-day search of six mine shafts near Oak Park Station also failed to uncover any evidence, while more than 150 Crime Stoppers tips have been received. Police returned to the property as recently as February 2 to search for Gus’s remains, but again found nothing. The owners of Oak Park Station and neighbouring properties have also conducted their own searches.
Gus was last seen by his grandmother at the homestead. The four-year-old, described as having blond curly hair and a shy but adventurous nature, vanished shortly afterwards.
His family previously said they were “devastated” and “deeply distressed” by his disappearance. Police said they continue to engage regularly with the family, who endured what Fielke described as a “horrid Christmas” without the young boy.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers as the investigation continues.
Images: SA Police
