South Australian police investigating the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont say a family member who lived at the same outback property is now a person of interest.
Lamont went missing from the Oak Park sheep station in Yunta – a three-hour drive north of Adelaide – in September last year, prompting several massive searches of the surrounding scrubland.
On Thursday, police provided an update, saying they were now treating the incident as a major crime. Police stressed that while neither of Gus’ parents were suspects, another family member who lived at the same property as the boy had become a person of interest in their investigation.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said inconsistencies had emerged between the statements Lamont’s family members made to officers since they began investigating.
“As a result of these inconsistencies … a person who resides at Oak Park station has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with us,” he said.
“The person who has withdrawn their co-operation is now considered a suspect in the disappearance of Gus.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’ parents are not suspects in his disappearance.”
“What I can say, however, is that we’ll continue to thoroughly and meticulously investigate the disappearance of Gus until we get an outcome. 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.”
Fielke also revealed that police had explored three possibilities in their search for Gus, who went missing in September.
“The search for Gus was based on him walking off from Oak Park Station and becoming lost. This is one of three investigation options that have been explored by the members attached to Task Force Horizon,” he said.
“The other two investigation options are focused on Gus being abducted from Oak Park Station or whether someone known to him was involved in his disappearance and suspected death.”
“As well as that, today I’m also declaring the disappearance of Gus Lamont to be a major crime.”
Fielke said there was “no evidence to suggest that Gus has merely wandered off from the homestead”.
No charges have been laid over Gus’ disappearance.
More to come.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
