A girl missing for three days in Alice Springs is still alive, NT Police believe, adding that she was seen holding hands with the man suspected of her abduction prior to vanishing.

Assistant crime and intelligence commissioner Peter Malley said five-year-old Sharon Granites could still be in the town, and that she was seen holding hands with suspect Jefferson Lewis at Old Timers Camp at about 11pm on Saturday.

Asked if police think the little girl is still alive, Mr Malley said “we do”.

“That’s why at this stage our number one mission is to find her safe and well, but, as time goes on, the chances of finding her alive and well reduce, hence the amount of resources we have here in Alice Springs.”

NT Police assistant crime and intelligence commissioner Peter Malley gives an update on the search for five-year-old Sharon outside Alice Springs Police station, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
Mr Malley said a crime scene had been declared near the Old Timers Town Camp and there were “a number of items of interest in the area”.

“We believe Jefferson Lewis has led the little girl away to that crime scene we’ve taped off. In terms of anything else, the other things going on remain under investigation. A lot of other things we’ve located are innocuous, but the actual taking of the child is very specific.

Five-year-old Sharon. Picture: NT Police
“We’ve had some information where Jefferson might have been sighted but we’re unable to confirm that it was actually him at this stage. We believe Jefferson Lewis has led the little girl away to that crime scene that we have taped off.”

Mr Lewis was last seen “holding hands with a little girl” at 11pm on Saturday night, Mr Malley said, but added no one questioned why the man was holding hands with the girl.

Mr Lewis was reported missing when the police arrived in the night to find little Sharon missing, Mr Malley said, adding “it was pretty easy to put two and two together”.

He said alcohol had been consumed at the Old Timers Camp on Saturday and that there was a “party, social occasion” that afternoon and that Mr Lewis “was probably under the influence of alcohol”.

NT Police say a taped off area on the Todd River, south of Alice Springs, behind Old Timers town camp is a crime scene, as police investigate that missing five-year-old Sharon has been abducted, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov

NT Police say a taped off area on the Todd River, south of Alice Springs, behind Old Timers town camp is a crime scene, as police investigate that missing five-year-old Sharon has been abducted, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
Police are confident Mr Lewis remains in the Northern Territory, but searches of Lajamanu, where he was raised and his wife’s Yuendumu home were unsuccessful.

Mr Malley said considering Mr Lewis’ history of violence he could not rule out that he suffered from a mental illness. He had been released from Barkly Work Camp six days before the alleged abduction was first reported on Saturday.

Mr Malley did not rule out the possibility Mr Lewis and Sharon were still within the 20km search zone currently established in Alice Springs to find the little girl.

Mr Lewis was released from prison six days before the alleged abduction took place.

Jefferson Lewis Sharon disappearance April 2026
He was previously serving time for domestic violence related offending. He was sentenced to 18 months behind bars in 2024 for aggravated assault, breaching his domestic violence order and breaching bail.

He was given a 12-month non parole period, but in March 2025 pleaded guilty to breaching a domestic violence order and resisting police. His original 18 month sentence would have expired April this year.

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro thanked volunteers for taking part in the search.

“As we enter day three in the search for missing Sharon, my thoughts and prayers are with her family and the wider community at this deeply distressing time,” she said.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone on the ground in Alice Springs taking part in this heartbreaking search. From more than 60 volunteers to Police, Fire and Emergency Services working around the clock to try and find her.”

NT Police cultural reform executive director Leanne Liddle said the family were “very distressed”.

NT Police load up at the temporary police headquarters set up for the search for five-year-old Sharon, south of Alice Springs, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
Family fronting media for an appeal may be “likely” in the “long term,” Ms Liddle said.

The case is the force’s “number one” and has been declared a major crime, Mr Malley said, adding he had the ability to call in any resources he needed to find the little girl.

“Our number one mission is to find little Sharon safe and well, and we’re doing everything within our power,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with everyone involved as he thanked police and volunteers for their efforts in the search.

“This breaks the heart of everyone who hears about this story,” he said.

“Every parent’s worst fear is your child going missing. If you don’t know where they are for five or 10 minutes, it can cause a great deal of anxiety for parents out there.

A search party scours buffel grass on the banks of the Todd River, Alice Springs, in search for five-year-old Sharon, who has been missing for three days now, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
“We just hope that this little girl is found. We feel for all the people involved with that and we hope that it becomes a very good news story in the coming period

“And on behalf of all Australians, we want to see a safe return.”

In a statement posted to Facebook, NT senator Jacinta Price called the situation “every parent’s worst nightmare”.

“Right now, the focus must be on bringing this little girl home safely to her family.

“When a young child is missing in these circumstances, the seriousness of the situation cannot be overstated, and every effort must be focused on finding her.

“I want to acknowledge the tireless work of police, emergency services and volunteers who are working around the clock, along with the strong community effort to support the search.

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly distressing time.

“We all want the same outcome — that she is found safe and returned home.

“The urgency is clear. If you know anything, come forward and help police. Let’s do everything we can to bring her home.”

On Tuesday morning, about 70 volunteers from were pouring into the temporary command headquarters set up south of Alice Springs to try and help find Sharon.

Tangentyere Council, Purple House, NORFORCE, the SES, and other volunteers were among the organisations helping anyway they can.

Five-year-old Sharon. Picture: NT Police
But the searchers had some tough terrain to traverse, NT Police search and rescue division sergeant Matt Hall said in the morning when giving an update.

“At this stage we haven’t located anything that’s provided any valuable information from a searching side,” he said.

“The challenge is the vastness of the area, the terrain … is quite dense bushland.

“At some points we’re crossing between open vegetation, closed vegetation, sand.”

About 70 people were involved in the search, which included horses, ATVs, helicopters, drones, dog units, and Aboriginal trackers.

Anybody with any information is urged to contact NT Police on 131444 and quote reference number P26120934.

No leads or sightings on day three of search for 5yo Sharon Granites

There have been no leads or sightings in the search for missing five-year-old girl, who was last seen at her home south of Alice Springs three days ago.

Police and searchers were up at first light in Alice Springs today in the hunt for missing five-year-old Sharon Granites, who police believe has been abducted from the Old Timers Camp.

Giving an update on the search on Tuesday morning, NT Police search and rescue division sergeant Matt Hall said there had been no leads or sightings since little Sharon went missing on Anzac Day.

NT Police search and rescue division sergeant Matt Hall gives an update on the search for five-year-old Sharon at the temporary police headquarters south of Alice Springs, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
“We’re in the day three of the search. At this stage we haven’t located anything that’s provided any valuable information from a searching side,” he said.

“The challenge is the vastness of the area, the terrain … is quite dense bushland.

“At some points we’re crossing between open vegetation, closed vegetation, sand.”

There were 60 people involved with the search on Tuesday morning, with dozens more volunteers streaming in, this masthead observed.

An appeal went out yesterday for assistance with a co-ordinated search.

People with an adequate level of fitness were advised to join police at Heath Road past Old Timers and the racecourse.

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress shared the appeal for help saying co-operating with police direction would be essential.

Cold weather is also a concern for searchers, Sgt Hall said, who said that is also a “consideration”.

“What we know is as a five year old is potentially out in the elements and as with every other person they’re subject to those elements as well,” he said.

“It was quite cold overnight.”

NT Police load up at the temporary police headquarters set up for the search for five-year-old Sharon, south of Alice Springs, April 28, 2026. Picture: Gera Kazakov
Alice Springs fell to a chilly 12 degrees overnight but is due to reach a top of 26 on Tuesday.

Police are treating the five-year-old’s disappearance as an abduction and are also searching for a 47-year-old male, recently released from prison and with a history of violence, in relation to the disappearance at the weekend.

Police said 47-year-old Lajamanu man Jefferson Lewis was staying at the Old Timers Camp home of five-year-old Sharon Granites at the time of her disappearance.

Police said the search area is now 20 square kilometres radiating out from Old Timers Camp.

Ground search teams are now around 60 people.

Police said helicopters, drones, dog unit, horses, motorcycles, ATVS will remain deployed today also.

Tangentyere Council has assisted greatly with organising volunteers along with NTES.

NORFORCE have also been deployed to assist.

Acting Commander Mark Grieve from NT Police Crime and Intelligence Command said Sharon was last seen at around 11.30pm on Saturday night, and she was reported missing from her Marshall Court home at about 1.35am on Sunday.

Jefferson Lewis has been linked to Sharon Granites’ disappearance.
Comm. Grieve said Jefferson Lewis, who had recently been released from prison without conditions, was staying at Sharon’s family home along with her mother and other family members.

“Police believe Mr Lewis can assist with inquiries at this point in time,” Comm Grieve said. “We can confirm that he is believed to have been in the area around that time and staying at the residence.

“He currently remains one of the few people who were in Old Timers Camp at the time and who has not made themselves known to police, nor have police been able to locate him at this point in time.

“We do believe Sharon has been abducted and we believe Mr Jefferson may be able to provide us with some information in regards to that.

NT Police hold concerns for the welfare of five-year-old Sharon, who went missing around 1.30am Sunday at Old Timers Camp, south of Alice Springs. April 26, 2026. Picture: NT Police
He said officers from Major Crime would undertake the criminal investigation while the search and rescue effort continued concurrently.

“We have the criminal plus the search and rescue effort,” Comm Grieve said.

“We don’t have any information in regards to whether Mr Lewis has access to a vehicle.

“We don’t think he does so we’re hoping that he’s still in the immediate area and, if he’s involved, we certainly hope that no harm has come to Sharon.”

Mr Lewis has a known recent history of violent assaults and ignoring domestic violence orders and bail conditions.

The NT Courts confirmed that Mr Lewis was sentenced to four months in prison in March 2025, after pleading guilty to breaching a domestic violence order and resisting police.

This came just five months after Mr Lewis faced court charged with aggravated assault, breaching his domestic violence order and breaching bail.

In October 2024 he was given a total effective sentence of 18-months, with a 12-month non-parole period.

A Police still of Jefferson Lewis taken at Old Timers Camp on Saturday.
On Monday morning, two helicopters were out searching for Sharon, while volunteers, police, and army members were scouring the Todd River. Other search areas included St Marys Hostel and Ilparpa.

A segment of Todd River behind the Old Timers Camp was taped off.

Overnight, Alice Springs dipped to a low of 14 degrees but by morning the sun was out and the town was set to reach a high of 27.

On Monday afternoon, police issued an explanatory statement following inquires around an image of Mr Lewis taken from body-worn video on Saturday.

“The stills of Jefferson Lewis are BWV from police members who attended Old Timers Camp at around 6.40pm on Saturday April 25,” a spokesman said. “The call was for an unrelated mental health incident and police briefly spoke with Mr Lewis, who did not disclose his identify. No arrests were made as no offences were detected.”

Anybody with information is urged to contact NT Police on 131444 and quote reference number P26120934.

‘Please help’: Desperate search for 5yo girl missing in outback NT

Police are appealing for the public’s help in the search of a five-year-old girl, who’s been missing from her Alice Springs home since 1.30am Sunday.

NT Police hold concerns for Sharon Granites, aged five, who was last seen by her parents when she was tucked into bed at her home in Old Timers Town Camp just after 11pm on Anzac Day.

Young Sharon was reported missing around 1.30am Sunday, with police searching the town camp when they arrived after she was first reported missing.

The search then continued on Sunday, detective Michael Ordelman told media late in the afternoon.

“It’s a very broad investigation at this stage where we’re not ruling out anything, but police obviously have concerns because of the time it’s taken, the age of young Sharon,” he said.

Five-year-old Sharon. Picture: NT Police
“Anyone in the community that knows anything – however insignificant they think it is – contact police so, so we can find her locator, return her to her family.”

Sharon was last seen wearing a dark blue short sleeve T-shirt with a white ring stripe around the neck and a white ring stripe around the end of the sleeves, as well as black boxer style underwear.

Mr Ordelman said the surrounding area has been searched, with resources such as helicopters and police dogs used to try to find the young girl.

But there’s been no leads or sightings so far, according to Mr Ordelman, who said the home’s doors “were open and the fly screen wasn’t locked”.

“It is probable that she’s walked out of the residence and then wandered off,” he said.

Old Timers Camp is next to the Todd River and the Stuart Highway.

NT Police detective Michael Ordelman, outside the Alice Springs Police station, gives an update on the search for five-year-old Sharon. Picture: Gera Kazakov
The dog squad had been searching the Todd River, Mr Ordelman said, with more help also set to arrive from Darwin on Monday morning.

CCTV in the areas has also been reviewed with the police drone also scouring the area with thermal imaging to find young Sharon.

“We don’t know if she has access to water … there’s some areas she may have gone to find water, but the increasing passage of time is concerning,” he said.

The search will go into Sunday night, Mr Ordelman said, with police to provide another update on Monday.

People with information about Sharon’s whereabouts should contact 131 444, quoting reference number P26120934.

“Please, please – help the parents, help police find little Sharon,” Mr Ordelman said.