The remote outback of South Australia remains gripped by anguish more than four months after four-year-old Gus Lamont vanished without trace from his family’s sheep station, Oak Park Station, near Yunta, approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Adelaide.

Gus was last seen playing outside the homestead on September 27, 2025. His grandmother reportedly left him unsupervised for about 30 minutes before checking on him, only to discover he was gone. What followed was one of the most extensive and intensive missing persons searches in South Australia Police (SAPOL) history— involving land, air, and ground teams across harsh terrain, multiple property sweeps, and community appeals.

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke of Task Force Horizon delivered a devastating update: the disappearance has been officially declared a major crime. Police now believe Gus is no longer alive and suspect foul play by someone known to him. They have ruled out theories that he simply wandered off into the outback or was abducted by a stranger, citing no supporting evidence after exhaustive investigations.

A key development: a person who resided at Oak Park Station has withdrawn cooperation with police and is now the primary suspect. “A person who resides at Oak Park Station has withdrawn their support for the police and is no longer cooperating with us,” Supt Fielke stated. “The person who has withdrawn their co-operation is now considered a suspect in the disappearance of Gus.” He emphasized inconsistencies in timelines and accounts provided by family members that shifted focus inward.

Crucially, authorities stressed the boy’s parents are cleared: “I do want to stress, however, that Gus’ parents are not suspects in his disappearance.” The suspect, believed known to Gus, has not been publicly named due to the active criminal investigation.

During a forensic search of the homestead on January 14-15, 2026, detectives executed a warrant and seized several items for examination, including a vehicle, a motorcycle, and electronic devices. These are undergoing forensic testing as part of efforts to uncover what happened to the little boy.

The case has evolved from a missing child operation to a suspected homicide probe, with police expressing sensitivity toward the family’s grief while pursuing justice. Supt Fielke described the investigation as complex, noting the remote location and the delicacy of implicating someone from the household.

Community shock has been palpable, with tributes to Gus’s innocent smile and playful nature flooding social media. The vast, unforgiving outback—once searched tirelessly for signs of life—now holds clues to a darker truth. As forensic analysis continues, authorities urge anyone with information to come forward, promising no stone unturned in seeking answers for Gus.

The Lamont family’s ordeal underscores the heartbreak of unresolved loss in isolated communities, where every update brings fresh pain. With the suspect under scrutiny, the focus sharpens on accountability and closure in one of Australia’s most haunting recent mysteries.