Police Launch New Search for Evidence in Disappearance of Four-Year-Old Gus Lamont
In a significant development, detectives from Task Force Horizon have returned to Oak Park Station, the remote sheep station where four-year-old Gus Lamont went missing in September 2025. This move comes as part of an intensified effort to uncover new evidence in a case that has now been reclassified as a major crime.
Timeline of Events and Initial Search Efforts
Gus, whose full name is August, disappeared on the evening of 27 September 2025 while playing outside at his family's property. According to police reports, his grandmother went to call him inside half an hour later, only to find him gone. Initially, authorities believed he might have wandered off, based on information from residents at the station.
The search operation that followed was one of the largest in South Australia's history, spanning the vast 60,000-hectare property located approximately 300 kilometres inland from Adelaide. Teams involving drones, divers, dogs, volunteers, police, emergency services, and defence force personnel scoured the area extensively. However, as time passed and survival experts advised, hopes of finding Gus alive faded, leading to a shift towards a recovery operation.
Shift to Major Crime and Suspect Identification
For months, police maintained that there was no evidence of foul play, though they did not rule out any possibilities, and noted the family's cooperation. This changed on 5 February when authorities announced the case was now considered a major crime. They revealed that a suspect had been identified—someone who lived with Gus at Oak Park Station—and that a vehicle, a motorbike, and electronic devices were seized in mid-January.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, overseeing major crime, explained that inconsistencies in information provided by family members led to this breakthrough. "As a result of these inconsistencies, and investigations into them, a person who resides at Oak Park Station has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with us," he stated. "The person who has withdrawn their cooperation is now considered a suspect in the disappearance of Gus."
Fielke emphasized that the suspect is not one of Gus's parents, alleviating some concerns about immediate family involvement. Police had been exploring three theories: wandering off, abduction, or involvement by someone known to Gus. Investigations have largely ruled out the first two, focusing on the third option.
Family Response and Ongoing Investigation
In response to the reclassification, Gus's two grandmothers released a statement through their lawyers, expressing devastation. They affirmed that the family has "cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad."
On Monday, police confirmed that Task Force Horizon detectives would be conducting a two-day search at Oak Park Station to gather further evidence. A statement from South Australia Police (SAPOL) noted, "Members attached to Task Force Horizon conducting inquiries into the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont on 27 September 2025 have returned to Oak Park Station to continue searching for evidence." An update on the search activities is expected as they progress.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, as the investigation continues to unfold in this heartbreaking case.
