Authorities are currently investigating the possibility that Sharon Granites may have been kidnapped by a man recently released from prison. Her family has issued an emotional appeal for her safe return.

Note: This article contains details that may be distressing to some readers.

Sharon vanished sometime after being tucked into bed before 11 p.m. on Saturday night.

The last reported sighting of her was around 11:30 p.m.; she was seen with a man named Jefferson Lewis, who was holding her hand. Police suspect he may have taken her away from the campsite.

Sharon was officially reported missing at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sunday.

On Sunday, police discovered some items, including clothing, on the riverbank near Old Timers Camp. However, these findings were not disclosed to the public until yesterday.

Police found materials and items of clothing on the river bank near Old Timers Camp on Sunday, but only revealed them publicly yesterday.

These items included a pair of children’s believed to belong to Sharon, as well as a shirt worn by Lewis. A doona cover was also found alongside these items of clothing.

Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Malley said that her family was being supported after the findings.

“She is a very affectionate little girl loved by her family, so it’s just a horrible thing that they are going through at the moment,” he said.

Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price confirmed she is the aunt of Sharon, saying she was shattered by the news.

“That’s incredibly frightening and very disturbing for the family as well,” she told Sky News.

“I’m holding on to hope that she is still alive and I’m very grateful for the volunteers, the police, the Aboriginal trackers, everyone that’s been involved in the search for Sharon.”

“There was nothing I could do – just cry,” grandfather Robin said.

“She was a really nice, little, good, quiet girl.”

Jefferson Lewis is the man who police want to talk to about the disappearance.

Lewis had been released from prison six days before Sharon went missing, after being charged with violent offences, including assault and domestic violence.

Dole confirmed Lewis was not on bail or subject to any conditions that would have required monitoring.

Police previously said Lewis only had a “loose connection” to the Granites family.

Lewis is seen wearing a distinctive yellow shirt in bodycam footage released by police from earlier on Saturday when they were responding to an unrelated mental health callout.

The shirt is the same one found near Old Timers Camp on Sunday.

Where is Old Timers Town Camp

Old Timers Camp is an Aboriginal community just to the south of Alice Springs.

Its local Indigenous name is Ilyperenye, and according to the Tangentyere Council website, 40 people live in nine households in the camp.

Local MP and Northern Territory Legislative Assembly Speaker Robyn Lambley told Today the camp was “a notoriously hard place to live”.

It is not known if Sharon’s home address was located here or elsewhere.

There are 43 town camps like this across the Northern Territory, and these area areas set aside where Aboriginal people can live in and around towns and cities.

Sharon Granites search updates

The search is now stretching interstate.

Western Australian Police have contacted Lewis’ wife and children in Bolga, who are cooperating with authorities.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole also revealed Sharon was non verbal, and that she often communicates with her hands.

He admitted this “complicates” search efforts.

“She’s unable to communicate needs,” he said.

Dole conceded the window for finding Sharon alive was beginning to close.

”We do consult people for survivability and that’s what gauges our search areas,” he said.

“So we’re getting to the end of that timeframe of survivability unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean our search efforts are going to reduce significantly because like I said anything is possible in these scenarios.”

Given neither have been spotted since Saturday night, something police believe is unusual, it is believed Lewis may be receiving help from someone.

Commissioner Dole urged Lewis or people with information to come forward.

“There’s people out there who are assisting, and that do know something, and that aren’t feeding that information into the authorities,” he said.

“Our hope is that piece of information comes through, that someone in the community knows something and that they let us know.”

“You might be fearful that there’s some retribution if you give  that information to police. Please have the confidence that we will treat that sensitively, because our number one priority is finding Sharon.”

Assistant Commissioner Malley said yesterday Lewis did not have a phone, car, or bank account, which makes the search “difficult.”

“Hence the amount of resources we have on the ground, we’re knocking on doors, we’re going through houses,” he said to media.

“It’s going back to 1930s policing without that digital footprint.”

Lambley told Today the whole community had been mobilised in the search.

“We have all been out there looking for her … the whole town is all about finding her,” she said.

Northern Territory Police confirmed they would be updating the public on the search later today.

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