South Australian police have labeled the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont from a remote sheep station a “major crime” and say a suspect has been identified.
The child was reported missing on September 27 from a family home in the outback, about 43 kilometers south of Yunta.
On Thursday, Detective Inspector Darren Fielke, the officer in charge of the Major Crime Investigation Branch, declared the disappearance a “major crime”.
“The search for Gus was based on him wandering away from Oak Park Station and becoming lost. This is one of three investigative options explored by members of Task Force Horizon,” he said.
“The other two investigative options focus on Gus’ kidnapping from Oak Park Station or whether anyone he knows was involved in his disappearance and presumed death.”
Investigators found no evidence indicating the child was abducted, Fielke said.
Search warrant executed at Oak Park Station
Police executed a search warrant at Oak Park Station on Jan. 14 and 15, Fielke said.
Detectives have seized a number of items including a vehicle, a motorcycle and electronic devices for forensic examination.
A person staying at the sheep station has withdrawn his cooperation in the case and is considered a suspect, Fielke said.
Gus’ parents are not suspects in his disappearance, he said.
He said the search for Gus was “unprecedented” and significant resources had been deployed.
Police said they conducted eight separate searches extending to a 3.47 mile radius of the home. The search area included three dams, which were drained. Police also searched six mine shafts within a 10 km radius of the farm.
Extensive aerial surveys were also conducted.
On Monday, a search was conducted at several locations around Oak Park Station for Gus’ remains, police said.
“Despite these extraordinary efforts, all combined searches have found no evidence, physical or otherwise, to indicate that Gus has wandered off,” Fielke said.
“I expect further searches will take place at Oak Park Station and several locations in an adjacent national park to locate Gus as new information and intelligence becomes available as the investigation continues,” Fielke said.
“I can reassure the community that despite the complex and challenging nature of the investigation, Task Force Horizon will continue to thoroughly and diligently investigate Gus’s disappearance until we obtain a resolution.”
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