Police Disheartened After Exhaustive Three-Day Search for Gus Yields No New Leads

South Australian police have announced that their latest search efforts around the property where four-year-old Gus Lamont vanished eight months ago have yielded no evidence to support theories of abduction.

During a media briefing held at Oak Park Station, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke of the Major Crime Investigation Branch stated that the three-day search did not uncover any new leads. However, he noted that one grandparent continues to be a suspect in the case of the missing child.

“Currently, no additional suspects or persons of interest have been identified,” Fielke reported.

He acknowledged the frustration stemming from the lack of progress but emphasized their ongoing commitment to the investigation.

“We haven’t given up. It’s disappointing that we haven’t found anything,” Fielke expressed.

He also highlighted the challenges of conducting searches in rural areas, mentioning, “It’s not like the city, where we have CCTV and people constantly passing by.”

“The reality is, the longer this goes on, the closer we get to not finding him. 

“I don’t want to give anybody the impression that we’re hopeful after eight months that we’ll find Gus alive, but we are hopeful we’ll be able to recover Gus at some point.”

In February, Gus’ grandparents, Josie and Shannon Murray, released a statement through their lawyers, saying they were “absolutely devastated” by SA Police’s revelation earlier that month that a person with close ties to the household, who is not one of Gus’ parents, had been speaking with detectives but then allegedly “withdrew cooperation”.

“We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime. The family has cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad,” the statement read.

The lawyers also indicated they will not be making any further comments.

There is no suggestion Josie or Shannon Murray are involved in the disappearance of Gus and it is not unusual for anyone linked to an investigation to seek out legal advice.

Fielke said police have been working on getting in contact with more than 500 people, mostly workers and neighbours, who were identified as being around Oak Park Station around the time of Gus’ disappearance. 

“We are working through the list … but all of the people we have contacted so far have been discounted in any way as being involved in Gus’ disappearance,” he said.

“There’s not many people left on that list, and we’ll continue to work through that. 

“At this point, there is no evidence to suggest that Gus has been abducted.”

Fielke said that Task Force Horizon members are in contact with Gus’ parents, who are regularly updated. They are not suspected of any wrongdoing over their son’s disappearance.

Over the last eight months, Fielke said police have received more than 830 separate pieces of information, 527 Crimestoppers calls, more than 200 calls to police, and more than 120 letters and emails to Taskforce Force Horizon.

“It is all being followed up, it is all being investigated,” he said.

Fielke said most of the recent search focused on waterways, washouts, and creekbeds impacted by recent flooding near Oak Park Station. 

“All of these members have walked, searched, in excess of 30km of waterways over the last three days,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we have not uncovered any other evidence that helps us locate Gus.” 

He said that a vehicle, motorcycle and electronics seized by police following a search warrant in mid-January provided no evidence after “thorough forensic testing”.

Fielke said the next steps in the eight-month investigation include using planes and drones 15 kilometres out from the homestead where Gus disappeared. 

9News understands police were hoping the recent rain may have uncovered evidence, including clothing Gus was wearing at the time of his disappearance eight months ago, such as a large-brimmed hat and a Minions shirt.

Police focused on sites that were inaccessible during their previous visit to the property in March, when flooding was taking place.

Gus was last seen playing on a dirt mound at Oak Park Station around 5pm on September 27, 2025.

He has not been seen since and his disappearance is being treated as a major crime.