Police provide bombshell update on the search for Gus Lamont

Another family member of missing boy Gus Lamont is no longer cooperating with authorities, as the five-month investigation into the four-year-old’s disappearance widens. 

While Gus’s parents continue to assist police, two relatives previously involved in the inquiry are no longer cooperating, South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed on Wednesday. 

Previously, only one relative had withdrawn their support.

Commissioner Stevens also confirmed that detectives will continue working on the case ‘for the foreseeable future’ following a renewed search of neighbouring properties this week.

Asked whether arrests were likely soon, Commissioner Stevens said: ‘As with any major crime investigation, we don’t rest until we have a resolution.

‘Given the complexities, it is fair to assume we’ll be working on Gus’s disappearance for some time yet.’

He added that a wider search area would be cast for the missing boy.

‘Adjoining properties, including the national park, will form part of our investigation as we move forward,’ Commissioner Stevens said.

Gus vanished from his grandparents’ 60,000ha property near the outback town of Yunta on September 27 last year, sparking an enormous land and aerial search operation. No trace of the little boy has been found.

Earlier this month, South Australia Police announced they believed the four-year-old was dead, declared his disappearance as a major crime, and revealed they had identified a suspect within his family. 

However they stressed that Gus’s mother and father, Jessica Murray and Joshua Lamont, were not suspects. 

Following the police claims, Gus’ grandparents Shannon and Josie Murray both enlisted the services of high profile Adelaide defence lawyers 

‘We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime,’ the pair’s statement read.

‘The family has co-operated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad.’ 

On Monday, police arrested and charged Gus’s grandmother, 75-year-old Josie Murray, with firearm offences. Police said the charges are not connected to Gus’s disappearance.

Murray was bailed to appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court in May.

No arrests have been made or charges laid in relation to Gus’ disappearance. 

So far, police have searched every accessible area within a 2.5km radius of the home before extending efforts up to 15km beyond the property using police, SES crews, volunteers, aerial assets, motorbikes, ATVs and specialist technology.