The ongoing investigation into the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont, missing for five months, has taken another turn as a second family member has ceased cooperation with authorities. This development comes as investigators broaden their search efforts.
In a recent update, South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed on Wednesday that despite the unwavering cooperation of Gus’s parents, two relatives who were initially involved in the investigation are no longer assisting the police. This marks an increase from the previously reported single relative who had pulled back their support.
Despite these setbacks, Commissioner Stevens assured that detectives are committed to pursuing the case. He emphasized that the investigation would persist “for the foreseeable future,” especially following the renewed search efforts conducted in neighboring areas this week.
When questioned about the possibility of imminent arrests, Commissioner Stevens reiterated the diligence of the ongoing investigation, stating, “As with any major crime investigation, we don’t rest until we have a resolution.” He acknowledged the case’s complexity, indicating that the search for answers in Gus’s disappearance is expected to continue for some time.
Asked whether arrests were likely soon, Commissioner Stevens said: ‘As with any major crime investigation, we don’t rest until we have a resolution.
‘Given the complexities, it is fair to assume we’ll be working on Gus’s disappearance for some time yet.’
He added that a wider search area would be cast for the missing boy.
‘We’re not ruling out anything. Adjoining properties, including the national park, will form part of our investigation as we move forward,’ Commissioner Stevens said.
Another family member of missing South Australian boy Gus Lamont (pictured) is no longer cooperating with police investigating his disappearance
Gus disappeared from Oak Park Station (pictured) on September 27
‘We’ll use every resource available to us if it will contribute to solving the disappearance of Gus Lamont.
‘I think it’s reasonably foreseeable that we will be visiting Oak Park quite frequently over the coming months as we continue our investigation as well as visiting surrounding locations in the vicinity of the residence.’
He added that police were still exploring every possibility in relation to Gus’ disappearance.
‘We didn’t simply focus on the search of a missing child on the property,’ Commissioner Stevens.
‘We were looking at other possibilities as well. That has been the focus of our investigation from the outset of the notification of Gus’s disappearance.’
Gus vanished from his grandparents’ 60,000ha Oak Park Station in South Australia’s Mid North on September 27 last year and despite the largest police search operation in the state’s history, no trace of him has been found.
Earlier this month, South Australia Police announced they believed the four-year-old was dead, declared his disappearance as a major crime, and revealed they had identified a suspect within his family.
However they stressed that Gus’s mother and father, Jessica Murray and Joshua Lamont, were not suspects.
A freshly cemented outhouse (left) at a neighbouring property was searched by cadaver dogs (right) on Tuesday
Gus’ grandparents Shannon (left) and Josie Murray (right) both enlisted the services of high profile Adelaide defence lawyers after police declared his disappearance as a major crime earlier this month
Gus’ grandmother Josie Murray, a transgender woman, was arrested and charged with firearm offences on Monday. The charges are not related to the boy’s disappearance
Following the police claims, Gus’ grandparents Shannon and Josie Murray – a transgender woman – both enlisted the services of high profile Adelaide defence lawyers.
‘We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime,’ the pair’s statement read.
‘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.’
On Monday, police arrested and charged Josie Murray, 75, with firearm offences. Police said the charges are not connected to Gus’s disappearance.
‘It is my assumption that they relate to either storage, ammunition, registration licensing, those sorts of offences,’ Commissioner Stevens said.
Murray was bailed to appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court in May.
Police have searched every accessible area within a 2.5km radius of the home before extending efforts up to 15km beyond the property using police, SES crews, volunteers, aerial assets, motorbikes, ATVs and specialist technology.
On Tuesday, officers and cadaver dogs brought in from New South Wales inspected a water tank and a freshly cemented outhouse at a sheep station owned by Gus’ family located 30km west of Oak Park Station.
They then moved to a second property at Grampus, about 24km from Oak Park, where Task Force Horizon detectives were seen scouring the homestead and surrounding areas.
A number of disused mine shafts were searched on a neighbouring property on Tuesday
Authorities on Monday began a two-day search at the remote station where he vanished in September (pictured in October)
It was announced on Tuesday night that the search had concluded and that no new discoveries were made.
‘The search covered numerous buildings and structures at Oak Park Station and at several locations adjoining the property. (It) involved Polair and a cadaver dog from interstate to assist in locating human remains. Unfortunately, no evidence was located during the intensive searches,’ a police spokesperson said.
‘Task Force Horizon detectives have not ruled out returning to Oak Park Station as the investigation continues.’
