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In Brief
- The parents of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont have issued a fresh appeal for information.
- Earlier this month, police said someone living at the remote station was a suspect in his disappearance and likely death.
The heartache of Gus Lamont’s parents, Josh Lamont and Jess Murray, is palpable as they continue their desperate search for their missing son. The couple has made an emotional appeal to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Four-year-old Gus was last seen playing at Oak Park Station in the remote areas of South Australia on September 27. His grandmother was the last known person to have seen him, and since then, hope has been mixed with heartache for his family.
In their renewed plea, the parents shared a recent photograph of Gus, capturing his joyful spirit with his shoulder-length blond curls and curious eyes. A 10-second video was also released, showing the young boy barefoot, wearing a hat, and enjoying a moment of childhood innocence on a bike.
“We are united in our grief, and we are united in our search for answers about what happened to our little boy, Gus, who means everything to us,” the parents expressed. The loss has been overwhelming, as they describe their lives as shattered, with each passing moment without Gus as unbearable.
“Our lives have been shattered, and every moment without him is unbearable,” they said.
“We know someone out there may have information. If someone knows what happened, we are pleading with that person — or anyone who may have seen or heard anything — to please come forward.”
Even the smallest detail “could give us the answers we so desperately need”, they said.
“All we want is to bring Gus home and understand what happened to our beautiful boy.”
On 5 February, police declared the boy’s disappearance a major crime and said someone living at the remote station was a suspect in his disappearance and likely death.
They confirmed his grandparents, his mother and his younger brother were at the property at the time he disappeared, but emphasised his parents were not suspects.
The disappearance sparked intensive searches spanning almost 500 square km and involving hundreds of police and volunteers, as well as aerial support and mounted units, which have failed to locate Gus or any items belonging to him.
“The tireless efforts of police, emergency services, ADF personnel, volunteers and specialists have meant more to us than we can ever say,” the parents said.
“To the friends, family and supporters who have shown such compassion, concern and assistance during this heartbreaking time: thank you. Your kindness has helped carry us through the darkest days of our lives.”
The boy’s grandparents, Josie and Shannon Murray, released a brief statement via their lawyers earlier in February saying they were “devastated” by the police allegations.
“The family has co-operated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad,” they said.
Investigators searched the homestead on 14 and 15 January, seizing items including a vehicle, a motorcycle and electronic devices for forensic testing.
Detective superintendent Darren Fielke earlier in February said family members had been cooperating with police and providing information, which police had reviewed.
On the day the disappearance was declared a major crime, Fielke said police identified “a number of inconsistencies and discrepancies with information as it relates to timelines and the version of events provided to us by the family members”.
“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 investigation had “taken many twists and turns”, Fielke said.
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