A fresh search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont on a remote South Australian sheep station has failed to uncover any trace of the little boy.
Taskforce Horizon launched the latest three-day hunt on Monday, hoping that recent heavy rain might have washed away soil and vegetation and 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓭 fresh clues.
More than 30 kilometres of creek beds, waterways and washouts were examined at Oak Park Station, near Yunta, by taskforce detectives and STAR Group officers.
Seventeen people were involved in the operation conducted on foot, which was the eleventh time the property had been searched.
Creeks and washouts were searched on foot during the latest search of Oak Park Station. Photo: SA Police
But on Thursday, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke revealed that no new material was found.
A number of bores and wells were also searched “but unfortunately without success”, he said.
Fielke said it was “disappointing” that nothing had been discovered despite investing a lot of time, effort and emotional energy.
“The reality is, the longer this goes on, the closer we get to not finding him,” he told media at Oak Park Station.
Recent rain had moved soil and 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮𝓭 new areas. Photo: SA Police
Fielke further revealed that items that were seized from the property during a raid in January — a vehicle, motorcycle and electronic devices — had been forensically tested.
But no evidence was obtained from them to provide any new lines of inquiry over the child’s unsolved disappearance.
“The results of the forensic examinations have not provided any new lines of inquiry or advanced the investigation. These examinations have also not eliminated anyone from the investigation,’’ Fielke said.
When it came to suspects, Fielke said that one of Gus’s grandparents remained a suspect.
The grandparents continued to preside at Oak Park and were communicating with police only through their lawyers.
Fielke said there were no other suspects among than 500 people who had been identified in and around the area when Gus disappeared.
Police were meticulously working through the list and making contact, but so far all had been discounted and there was no evidence to suggest Gus had been abducted by a third party.
Fielke said the dead ends were demoralising, but the taskforce would not give up.
He said the next step in the eight-month investigation would be conducting another aerial search with fixed-wing and drone aircraft, over an area stretching 15 kilometres from the homestead.
The new air search would begin over the next few weeks.
“Much like this week’s ground search given the recent weather event, we are taking the opportunity to search this area again using the aerial platforms.”
“This is will to occur in the coming weeks and once again, we will take advantage of AI technology to analyse the captured footage.”
“If this analysis identifies new areas of interest, we will return to conduct further searching.’’
A team of 17 from Taskforce Horizon and STAR Group searched the area. Photo: SA Police
Gus Lamont was last seen by his grandmother playing at the Oak Park Station homestead in outback South Australia on September 27, 2025.
Major crime detectives and specialist officers resumed a search of the property on Monday, “to take advantage of opportunities that may have arisen as a result of recent heavy rains on the property”, SA Police said.
Task Force Horizon was to “search numerous locations” for evidence over three days, police said.
On February 5, police declared the boy’s disappearance a major crime and said someone living at the remote station was a suspect in the case and his likely death.
They confirmed his grandparents, his mother and his younger brother were at the property at the time he disappeared but emphasised his parents were not suspects.
The disappearance sparked intensive searches spanning almost 500 sq km and involving hundreds of police and volunteers as well as aerial support and mounted units, which have failed to locate Gus or any items belonging to him.
In February, the boy’s parents Josh Lamont and Jess Murray said they were united in grief, and united in the search for answers about what happened to Gus, who meant everything to them.
“Our lives have been shattered, and every moment without him is unbearable,” they said.
“We know someone out there may have information. If someone knows what happened, we are pleading with that person — or anyone who may have seen or heard anything — to please come forward.”
Anyone with any information on Gus’ disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.
