Top cop makes rare admission about the search for Gus Lamont eight months after the little boy disappeared

Police searching for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont have not ruled out returning to the remote property where he was last seen just over seven months ago.

Gus disappeared from his grandparents’ Oak Park Station near Yunta, 300km north of Adelaide, on September 27 while playing on a pile of sand.

Police labeled his disappearance a major crime investigation in February, but despite extensive searches, no trace of Gus was ever found.

In a further blow to the little boy’s loved ones, South Australian Police (SAPOL) said on Monday they had no new information.

“This is one of those tragic stories that we would like to provide more clarity on,” Commissioner Grant Stevens said at a news conference.

‘But we have no further updates at this time. The task force operating within the Major Crime Investigation Division continues its work.

“I have had no specific update on their activities in recent weeks.”

Commissioner Stevens added that officers plan to return to the home near Yunta “at some point in the future,” but gave no indication of when that would be.

Gus Lamont (pictured) disappeared on September 27 from his grandparents’ Oak Park Station near Yunta, 300 km north of Adelaide.

Police said officers plan to return to the home near Yunta “sometime in the future” but had no details on when that would be (photo, Gus on a bicycle at Oak Park Station)

Police have previously said the operation is the “largest and most intensive” search for missing persons ever undertaken by the force.

In February, authorities announced they believed Gus was dead and had identified a suspect within his family.

They later confirmed that they had found “inconsistencies” in statements and timelines provided by some family members.

No arrests have been made or charges filed in Gus’ disappearance.

It is emphasized that his parents, Joshua Lamont and Jessica Murray, have been ruled out as possible suspects and are cooperating with the investigation.

Gus’s grandparents, Shannon and Josie Murray, later retained separate attorneys, a move not unusual under the circumstances.

Both grandparents said they were ‘devastated’ by the police announcement and insisted they were still cooperating with the investigation.

Gus’ parents, though divorced, released a joint statement in February describing how their lives had been devastated by their son’s disappearance.

Police have previously stressed that the operation to find Gus (pictured with a Kelpie dog) is the ‘largest and most intensive’ missing persons search ever undertaken by police.

It is emphasized that his parents, Jessica Murray and Joshua Lamont (pictured), have been completely ruled out as possible suspects

SA Police are unable to provide any further updates on their search operation

In February, SA police announced they believed Gus was dead (photo, Oak Park)

“Every moment without him is unbearable,” they said. “We know someone out there might have information.

‘If anyone knows what happened, we would ask that person – or anyone who may have seen or heard something – to come forward. Even the smallest detail can give us the answers we so desperately need.

They also thanked their supporters.

“Your kindness helped us through the darkest days of our lives,” they said.

“All we want is to bring Gus home and understand what happened to our beautiful boy.”

A month later, in March, police visited the remote Oak Park Station in a search for evidence, but left with no new clues as to Gus’s whereabouts.

In November, a search found unfenced mine shafts between 5.5 km and 12 km from the homestead near Yunta.

“The inspection of the mine shafts … did not reveal any evidence that could assist in the investigation into Gus’s disappearance,” police said at the time.

‘Several of the shafts were relatively shallow and could be visually inspected, but the remainder were up to 20 meters deep and required specialist equipment to complete the searches.’

Before that, authorities had drained a dam in late October, ruling out the possibility that Gus had drowned.

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