Gus Lamont’s family member a suspect as police treat four-year-old’s disappearance as a major crime

The disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont has been declared a “major crime” as South Australian police reveal a family member who lived at the same outback property is a suspect in their investigation.

Gus 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, South Australian police declared the case 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 inconsistent accounts had emerged in the statements that Gus’ family members had first made to officers.

“Only as recently as January 14 and 15, when we attended there, did we get more information that we have analysed and reviewed, which again has highlighted some discrepancies,” he said.

“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 a person who resides at Oak Park station has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with us.

“The person who has withdrawn their co-operation is now considered a suspect in the disappearance of Gus.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.”

Fielke declined to detail the suspect’s exact relationship to the missing boy or explicitly state what the inconsistencies in the accounts of the boy’s disappearance were.

“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 said the suspect has obtained legal representation.

Asked if police believed Gus was at the property when officers were searching for him, Fielke replied that it was possible.

“Police were on scene quite quickly when they were advised that Gus was missing,” Fielke said. “Yes, there was some time in between that it was possible. We’re still working on that timeline.”

The search for Gus has so far covered 95 square kilometres, including six mine shafts near the property. It has involved nearly 400 personnel, including police officers, SES, the Australian Defence Force, an Indigenous tracker, aircraft and community volunteers.

Fielke said police believed Gus was not currently in the search area.

He also revealed that police had explored three possibilities in their search.

“The search... was based on him walking off from Oak Park Station and becoming lost,” 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.

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