Police have resumed the search for four-year-old Gus Lamont, who vanished from his grandparents' remote property in South Australia 18 days ago, but have found no new evidence. The renewed operation, involving over 100 search team members, has been hampered by extreme heat and difficult terrain.
Gus was last seen playing on a dirt mound at around 5 pm on the 60,000-hectare Yunta property, nearly 200 miles north-east of Adelaide. Half an hour later, his grandmother called him inside, but he was gone. The subsequent search, one of the largest in state history, found only a single footprint.
The family has faced additional distress from online misinformation, including an AI-generated image falsely showing an unfamiliar man with Gus. Missing persons expert Dr Sarah Wayland urged the public to verify information before sharing, warning against unverified social media posts.
Psychics have also exploited the case, promoting unfounded theories. One TikTok user, spookyt, claimed Gus is 'very much alive' and near the house, suggesting he fell and hit his head. Gus's grandmother, Josie Murray, has declined offers of help, stating the family is still hopeful but dealing with the situation privately.
