A year after the disappearance of Gus Lamont from a remote South Australian sheep station, police remain without answers and have announced a one million dollar reward for information that could explain what happened to the child.
Gus, who was four at the time, was last seen outside his family’s homestead at Oak Park station in Grampus, near Yunta, about 360km north of Adelaide, at around 5pm on September 27 last year.
His disappearance triggered what is believed to be the largest search operation in South Australian history. Officers have since searched the station on 11 separate occasions, but have found no indication of where the boy went.
Gus’s parents, Josh Lamont and Jess Murray, have spoken on camera for the first time about the impact of the past year, including missing his fifth birthday and seeing his younger brother turn one without him.
“The disappearance of our son Gus has been the most devastating and inexplicable event we have ever experienced,” Ms Murray said.
“We love him more than words can convey, and every single day without him has been incredibly difficult.
“Our heartache only grows as time passes and an entire year without any answers is upon us.”
She described Gus as “a beautiful sweet and unique little boy” who enjoyed music, stories and playing in the natural world.
“One of the most heartbreaking things is that Gus and his little brother will not grow up and share their lives together,” she said.
One million dollar reward in Gus Lamont disappearance
South Australian police and the state government announced the reward this week, in a fresh attempt to encourage someone with vital information to come forward.
Xanthe Weston, an associate professor of criminology at Central Queensland University, said linking the announcement to the anniversary could help renew public attention on the case.
“A million dollars is certainly an enticing amount of money for anybody and in missing person cases, particularly with a child, maximising publicity is vital,” she said.
Professor Weston said rewards could help generate leads, but warned that offering one too early could remove a future opportunity to use the incentive.
The case has attracted intense interest in Australia and overseas, including speculation from online groups. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said police had been forced to examine “crazy theories”, despite many not being supported by valid information.
“It is unhelpful because all the information needs to be followed up. It is unhelpful for investigators to spend time on information that is just not valid,” he said.
Professor Weston said online speculation and rumours were unlikely to assist the investigation, although genuine information should be passed to police rather than shared as conjecture.
Gus’s grandmother, Josie Murray, has also given fresh interviews in which she raised the possibility that he was abducted or taken by an eagle. She has said police were treating her as a suspect in the disappearance.
Professor Weston said Ms Murray had the right to speak publicly, but that the reason for doing so at this stage could not be determined.
Detective Superintendent Fielke, the lead investigator, said police were continuing to work on the theory that someone known to Gus had been involved in his disappearance and suspected death.
“Children don’t just disappear — somebody knows something,” he said.
“We will follow up all information, all information. We want nothing more than to give closure to Gus’s family. They deserve it.”
