A neighbour of Josie and Shannon Murray, the maternal grandparents of missing boy Gus Lamont, says they are 'totally bewildered' by his disappearance. Gus was last seen playing in a pile of sand outside the Oak Park Station homestead, owned by the Murrays, near Yunta in South Australia on September 27 last year.
Police Search Efforts
Detectives and specialist STAR Group officers returned to Oak Park Station this week to scour new locations but found no evidence after three days of searching. Major Crime Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke confirmed that one of Gus's grandparents is a suspect. 'One of the grandparents of Gus remains a suspect in this investigation, although at this time I'm not prepared to elaborate any further in relation to that person,' he told reporters during a press conference on the rural property on Thursday.
Neighbour's Account
Neighbour Fleur Tiver, who describes herself as a family friend of Josie and Shannon Murray, said the four-year-old is 'absolutely their beloved grandson'. 'I thought they were totally bewildered, I would say, more than anything. They sort of can't understand what's happened and why,' she told 7News.
Authorities have searched more than 30km of waterways during 11 searches of the remote property over the last eight months. 'Oh yes, it's a wide open country and plenty of it,' Ms Tiver said. 'You could miss something.'
Investigation Challenges
Det Supt Fielke was asked by reporters whether it was unusual to find no evidence despite such a mammoth effort. 'It is hard to explain. We have invested a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of emotional energy into this. We have not given up,' he said. 'It is disappointing that we have not found anything, but you have seen it yourself what the environment is like here. It is not the city.'
A vehicle, motorcycle and electronic devices seized during a search warrant earlier this year have been forensically examined but yielded no new leads. Taskforce Horizon officers will continue searching for evidence, with fresh aerial surveying to be conducted over a large area of the property. 'If this analysis identifies new areas of interest, we will return to conduct further searching,' Det Supt Fielke said.
Extensive Witness List
SA Police have identified more than 500 people who were 'in and around' Oak Park Station when Gus was reported missing on September 27 last year. 'Taskforce members have been meticulously working through the list of those people and making individual contact with every one of those people,' Supt Fielke said. He added that there was 'no evidence to suggest that Gus has been abducted'. 'All of the people that we have contacted so far have been discounted as being involved in any way in Gus's disappearance,' he said. 'There's not many people left on that list.'
Police remain in constant contact with Gus's parents, Joshua Lamont and Jessica Murray, who are provided with regular updates. 'They're still struggling as you can imagine. They are riding a pretty emotional rollercoaster,' Supt Fielke said.
Background and Legal Representation
The latest search marked the first time police had returned to the property since March, when some locations were inaccessible due to flooding. It also coincided with the eight-month anniversary of Gus's disappearance. In February, authorities said they believed Gus was dead and declared his disappearance a major crime, adding they had identified a suspect within the family. They later confirmed they found 'inconsistencies' in statements and timelines provided by some family members.
No arrests have been made or charges laid in connection with Gus's disappearance. Police have repeatedly stressed that Gus's parents are not considered suspects in his disappearance. Grandparents Shannon and Josie Murray have both enlisted high-profile Adelaide defence lawyers, a move not unusual in such circumstances. '(Shannon) is still supporting Josie, cooperating through her solicitors and hoping to find Gus, (and) hoping that some information comes to light soon,' her lawyer Andrew Ey said.
Family Statement
Gus's parents, who are separated, issued a united statement earlier this year describing how their lives had been shattered by their son's disappearance. 'Every moment without him is unbearable. We know someone out there may have information,' the couple said. 'If someone knows what happened, we are pleading with that person - or anyone who may have seen or heard anything - to please come forward. Even the smallest detail could give us the answers we so desperately need.'
