Police have finished searching remote mine shafts in South Australia’s Mid North, but in a tragic update have confirmed there is still no sign of four-year-old Gus Lamont – two months after he vanished without a trace.
SAPOL confirmed yesterday that officers would search six mineshafts near Oak Park Station, again stressing there is no evidence of foul play.
But on Wednesday, 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 20 metres deep and specialised equipment was required to complete the searches.’
The family of Gus has been advised of the results of the renewed search and is being supported by a victim contact officer.
Police have not ruled out returning to the property as the investigation continues.
The renewed search comes after police drained a large dam on the property on October 31, ruling out concerns that Gus may have drowned.
Police concluded a search at several locations on and around Oak Park Station for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont
Police inspected six mine shafts during this week’s search but found nothing
This came after extensive ground and aerial searches involving SA Police, ADF personnel, SES volunteers, Indigenous trackers and local landholders.
Earlier, on October 17, police concluded a four-day search of Oak Park Station, building on an initial 10-day operation launched immediately after Gus disappeared.
Gus’ family remain fully cooperative with police and are being supported by a dedicated victim contact officer as the search for answers soon enters its third month.
Despite one of the largest search efforts in the country’s history, involving the Australian Defence Force, helicopters with thermal imaging and Aboriginal trackers – no trace of Gus has been found eight weeks after his disappearance.
The boy was last seen by his grandmother Shannon Murray playing on a mound of dirt outside in the early evening. When she returned 30 minutes later to call him inside, he had vanished.
Gus lived on the station with her, grandparent Josie Murray – a transgender woman, his mother Jessica and his younger brother Ronnie.
It has been reported that Gus’ mum Jessica was with Josie looking for lost sheep about 10km from the homestead when Gus disappeared.
The boy was last seen by his grandmother playing on a mound of dirt outside in the early evening. When she returned 30 minutes later to call him inside, he had vanished
A close friend of Shannon’s suggested Gus could have simply wandered off to look for his mother.
‘It is very easy to get lost on a station that size,’ said the friend.
‘Shannon grew up out there and she almost got lost a few years ago.
‘Her and Josie were out on motorbikes sorting out the sheep one afternoon and they got separated for a while. She had to turn off her bike to listen out for Josie’s to find her way back.
‘He’s a happy little boy, happy to do his own thing. But when you address him, he gets shy and hides.’
Gus’ father Joshua Lamont was living in a farmhouse in Belalie North – a two-hour drive away from the Murray’s Outback sheep station – while still in a relationship with Jess.
It is understood Mr Lamont only found out his child was missing when police woke him up at his Belalie North home, hours after Gus had vanished.
He now appears to be living in Adelaide, more than 290km away from where his son was last seen.
Jessica has not been seen in public since Gus vanished on September 27.
It was widely understood that she remained at Oak Park Station, where she was living with her parents, Gus, and one year old Ronnie – the other son she shares with Jessica.
