Community in mourning after 5yo girl’s body found

Community members have left flowers and notes in tribute to Kumanjayi Little Baby, at the Old Timers town camp in Alice Springs. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)

Tributes are flowing in Alice Springs for a five-year-old Aboriginal girl whose body was found on Thursday, as the community mourns her death.

Note: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this story includes the image of an Indigenous person who has died.

The girl, referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, went missing from Alice Springs’ Old Timers town camp late on Saturday, sparking a five day, large-scale search.

But in a “tragic update” on Thursday afternoon, police announced the girl’s body had been found, about 5 kilometres south of a crime scene in the town camp.

Police say they believe she was abducted and murdered by 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who was arrested on Thursday evening.

“A short time ago, the Northern Territory Police Force located and arrested Jefferson Lewis at a residence in Alice Springs,” police said in a statement.

“Further information will be provided early in the morning.”

Five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby’s body was found on Thursday. (Supplied: NT Police Force)

On Thursday afternoon, dozens of mourners arrived at the Old Timers town camp, where a makeshift shrine had been set up in tribute to Kumanjayi Little Baby.

Kumanjayi’s grandfather, Robin Japanangka Granites, met with mourners at the entrance.

He hugged mourners as they came up to him, with many of them sobbing or holding bunches of flowers.

Dozens of mourners have passed on their condolences to the little girl’s family.  (ABC News: Xavier Martin)

Outside the town camp, a stream of mourners continued to arrive by the carload, to pay their respects and share their sadness.

Flowers, cards and candles lined the community’s entrance, while inside, the house from where Kumanjayi was allegedly abducted has had its fence covered with flowers.

Dozens of mourners have passed on their condolences to the little girl’s family.  (ABC News: Xavier Martin)

Earlier on Thursday, Kumanjayi’s mum had a message for her little girl, sharing a statement that was read by NT Police executive director of cultural reform Leanne Liddle.

“Me and Ramsiah [Kumanjayi’s brother] miss and love you,” she said.

“Me and your brother will meet you one day.

“It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you.

“Ramsiah wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven, he is going to give you the biggest hug ever.”

A note left at the town camp shrine for Kumanjayi Little Baby. (ABC News: Matt Garrick)

Community grieving

In a statement, Walter Shaw, the chief executive of Aboriginal organisation Tangentyere Council which maintains the Old Timers town camp, said “everyone’s hearts are broken”.

“We have had the news none of us wanted to hear,” he said.

“The family is now in Sorry Business, and we ask everyone on their behalf to respect the cultural protocols while they grieve their loss.”

He said the council, whose staff assisted with the search for Kumanjayi Little Baby, were supporting the girl’s family.

Walter Shaw says Tangentyere Council is supporting the girl’s grieving family.  (ABC News: Randi Dahnial)

Alice Springs-based independent MLA Robyn Lambley took part in the ground search for the little girl over the last three days.

She said even though she knew they could be looking for a body, the outcome had caused her “utter devastation”.

“I had convinced myself she was still alive and I didn’t allow myself to think this little girl could have ended the way she has, so this news is just devastating,” she said.

Robyn Lambley says the news of Kumanjayi’s death has been devastating.  (ABC News)

Ms Lambley said the impact on the town would be massive and the impact on the girl’s family was inconceivable.

“It will take some time for us to process what has happened and come to terms with the fact that evil has prevailed, that someone has ended the life of this little girl,” she said.

“And for the family it’s just a lifelong sentence of grieving and never getting over the loss.”

In a statement on Thursday, NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is a member of the girl’s extended family, said the news was devastating.

“This loss is deeply felt,” she said.

“My thoughts are with her family and the Alice Springs community who are grieving.

“This is the worst possible outcome, and no child should ever be placed in harm’s way.”

A spokesperson for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alice Springs said it would hold a vigil for Kumanjayi Little Baby tonight, with members of the public invited to attend and light a candle.

Members of the community have gathered to light candles for Kumanjayi Little Baby at the town’s Catholic church. (ABC News: Elsie Lange)