Gus Lamont’s grandparents have broken their silence after police revealed one of his family members is now a suspect in his disappearance.
Gus’s grandparents, Josie and Shannon Murray, said the family had ‘cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad’.
‘We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime,’ they said in a joint statement from their separate lawyers.
The lawyers representing the pair said they would not participate in any interviews or comment further.
South Australia Police said yesterday that a family member ‘who resides at Oak Park Station’ – not one of Gus’ parents – had withdrawn co-operation in the investigation, and that person is now a suspect. Police also confirmed they believe Gus is dead.
After the announcement, Gus’ grandparents hired separate lawyers.
Josie hired Adelaide criminal lawyer Andrew Ey, while Shannon sought the legal services of Casey Isaacs, also from Adelaide.
Police have not made any arrests or laid any charges. It is common for witnesses to seek legal advice and it is not suggested either was involved in any wrongdoing.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, the officer in charge of the state’s Major Crime Division, said investigators had uncovered inconsistencies in accounts surrounding the day Gus disappeared.
‘We have identified a number of inconsistencies and discrepancies with that information as it relates to timelines and the version of events provided to us by the family members.
‘As a result of these inconsistencies, and investigations into them, a person who resides at Oak Park Station has withdrawn their support for police and is no longer cooperating with us.’
Gus was last seen at his grandparents’ homestead at Oak Park Station, a 60,000ha property 40km south of Yunta, on September 27.
Prior to today, police said he was in the care of his grandmother, Shannon Murray, while his mother Jessica and other grandparent Josie were tending sheep about 10km away.
Police said Shannon was the last person to see Gus, at about 5pm, when he was playing in the sand outside the homestead.
When she went to call him inside about 30 minutes later, he had vanished without a trace.
The family reported Gus’ disappearance to police three hours later.
At the time Gus went missing, his father, Joshua Lamont, was living about two hours away from Oak Park and was not present when his son disappeared.
A friend told Daily Mail that Joshua and Jess remain a couple but have a ‘commuter relationship’.
Although hundreds of police officers, dozens of soldiers, a small army of volunteers and an Aboriginal tracker have scoured tens of thousands of acres of Outback, the blond, curly haired little boy has not been found.
The only trace of Gus was a single footprint found about 500 metres from the homestead – which police have since cast doubt on.
There is little hope he will be found alive.
At the time of his disappearance South Australian Assistant Police Commissioner Ian Parrott said said they believe that Gus wandered off and was not taken, as the only people who travel on the nearby road are station owners.
‘Everything that we have found to date, every piece of information and evidence that we have explored to date, indicates that, as best as we know, Gus has wandered off from this property and we have not been able to locate him.’
Locals believe the four-year-old may have fallen into a disused and unmarked mine.
The area is dotted with mines and wells from more than a century ago.
The mines were used as water sources for livestock and those hunting gold, with many being invisible to the naked eye.
In November, SAPOL announced that officers would search six mineshafts near Oak Park Station, nearly two months after Gus disappeared.
But just a day later, they confirmed the latest search had found nothing.
‘The inspection of the mine shafts, located between 5.5km and 12km from the Oak Park homestead, did not locate any evidence to assist in the investigation into Gus’ disappearance,’ police said.
‘Several of the shafts were relatively shallow and could be visually inspected but the remainder were up to 20metres deep and specialised equipment was required to complete the searches.’
Police have discounted several theories that might explain the four-year-old’s disappearance, not least those involving animals.
While dingos have been responsible for abducting small children, there are precious few in the land around Yunta, since sheep farmers tend to shoot them on sight.
The region is also protected by a 1,200-mile dog fence designed to safeguard livestock. Crocodiles, which inhabit more tropical northern regions of Australia, are not found in the south.
Gus is too big to be taken by an eagle, and if he had been attacked by a wild pig, searchers would almost certainly have discovered evidence of a struggle.
Local topography, meanwhile, makes it almost impossible that a stranger could have abducted him.
The nearest major public road is the Barrier Highway, a desolate 600-mile road that takes long-distance truckers to New South Wales. But to reach it, Gus would have had to wander 48km.
Police divers have searched every pond and water tank in the area.
CRE: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15533897/gus-lamont-grandparents.html