Australia AUSTRALIA - 4YO AUGUST (GUS) Missing from rural family home in Outback, Yunta, South Australia, 27th Sept 2025

[statt#1]

This entire post is only my opinion. Josie with the shotgun demonstrated a rather angry affect, there's no denying that. Snake or no snake, there was a shotgun in hand, in addition to an extremely angry, loud, and confrontational tone...not to mention raising the barrel of that gun, said action in my estimation to be a definitive threat.

The comment I quoted, and linked the source article, " 'One day I will tell the story (about Gus).' ", said comment from Ronald Boland, Aboriginal tracker.....

Well known and publicized information detailing a strained, if not worse, relationship between Gus's father and Josie,

Even at 4 years old, I can easily see how that young boy would be quite knowledgeable of the lay of the land, including immediate farm buildings, and also those farther away. I just don't think he 'wandered off' and got lost. This child, and it's only my opinion, for now.... chose to escape the chaos.

I've settled on the idea that things around that farm weren't necessarily peaceful.... Gus purposely ran away, and may have even taken great pains to hide from anybody that might try and find him.

Aboriginal tracker who searched for Gus insists police will find him

The Aboriginal tracker tasked with helping find missing South Australian boy Gus Lamont makes a surprising revelation on the one-month anniversary of the four-year-old's disappearance.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Hexe]

Can we please refrain from assuming a person that is under enormous stress must have a violent temper because she raised her voice while harassed? Her grandson is missing, for Pete's sake.

 

[jepop]

This entire post is only my opinion. Josie with the shotgun demonstrated a rather angry affect, there's no denying that. Snake or no snake, there was a shotgun in hand, in addition to an extremely angry, loud, and confrontational tone...not to mention raising the barrel of that gun, said action in my estimation to be a definitive threat.

The comment I quoted, and linked the source article, " 'One day I will tell the story (about Gus).' ", said comment from Ronald Boland, Aboriginal tracker.....

Well known and publicized information detailing a strained, if not worse, relationship between Gus's father and Josie,

Even at 4 years old, I can easily see how that young boy would be quite knowledgeable of the lay of the land, including immediate farm buildings, and also those farther away. I just don't think he 'wandered off' and got lost. This child, and it's only my opinion, for now.... chose to escape the chaos.

I've settled on the idea that things around that farm weren't necessarily peaceful.... Gus purposely ran away, and may have even taken great pains to hide from anybody that might try and find him.

Aboriginal tracker who searched for Gus insists police will find him

The Aboriginal tracker tasked with helping find missing South Australian boy Gus Lamont makes a surprising revelation on the one-month anniversary of the four-year-old's disappearance.

www.dailymail.co.uk

There's two points that occurred to me on reading your ideas.

1) I keep in mind the way the DM has edited their story and embedded the quote, by design Imo, in an aura of mystery and ambiguity. Moo I'm aware that innuendo is a DM speciality and as far as I'm concerned it's deliberately manipulative on the writer's/editors part. Ie let's label it cryptic. The aim is to manipulate readers into this sort of speculation in my opinion. That is my opinion of the style and it's purpose. It's about Clicks. And tapping in to the desire for mystery.

2). Yes Josie directed much anger at the DM reporter. Consider the circumstances. They are known to all:
a) past inflammatory writings unnecessarily dramatizing personal information in typical insinuating style to encourage gossip and unfounded speculation combined; with
b) ignoring the reasonable and public directions to the media to leave the family alone and not enter their private property chasing comments; and
c) most important of all in my view,
that very afternoon officials had started arriving to set up a drain of the dam for the next day. It's not hard to imagine the anxiety and grief anticipating what might happen. Then this intrusive reporter turns up at that extremely sensitive time, despite all the requests and warnings that all other outlets have respected.

We all have different levels and ways of expressing justified anger. In these circumstances I both understand and empathise. Moo

 

[jepop]

Can we please refrain from assuming a person that is under enormous stress must have a violent temper because she raised her voice while harassed? Her grandson is missing, for Pete's sake.

Exactly my thoughts. Much more concisely expressed. It's not a fair judgement at all. Moo

 

[KBlackRabbit]

What??

That's so harsh.

TikTok - Make Your Day

This is Jonica Bray's video showing the gun was pointed at her.

That’s an edited series of photos with flashing and breakaway video effects and stupid dramatic music. It tells me nothing except I can’t trust this “reporter.”

I saw the upside down video that shows nothing except the “reporter” is a poor videographer and she was being told repeatedly to get out. I saw nothing that shows Josie was waving a gun at her or any of the other allegations made against her. The only thing getting waved around recklessly was the camera. I’ve seen drunken Sasquatch cams that are better quality.

These people have been repeatedly harassed, there’s no evidence they harmed Gus, the public has been told to stay away, if the family has something to say they know who to contact, the police and other authorities are working on the case. There’s no reason for this borderline stalker to keep pestering them.

 

[drsleuth]

What??

That's so harsh.

TikTok - Make Your Day

This is Jonica Bray's video showing the gun was pointed at her.

The gun was not directly pointed at Jonica. She has taken stills from the video ( after editing from the initial upside down one she posted ) with the gun being lifted up & pointing to the air & again lowered & pointing to the ground.

This shows her clear intent to deceive her viewers IMO

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7567226635854892306

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7567884258069450002

 

[musicaljoke]

I sort of blame the editor also, for allowing this to happen, but Karleigh Smith had been to Oak Park to doornock before and didn't catch a weapon, so maybe they just assumed that there was no serious risk of harm.

I'm actually really concerned that a plain clothes police detective or an off-shift SES worker or CWA person with pumpkin scones will turn up, for a legal purpose, and get shot and killed.

And maybe that's why Ms Bray made the police report, because she didn't want anyone else to get hurt. Imo

She had a near miss. That's what we call it at work when an accident nearly happens.

It's a near miss.

A near miss?

No one was even aiming, so I can't begin to call it a near miss.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

What do we know about how well the sand pile(s) (where Gus was last seen playing) have been searched?

I keep thinking of the kids who dig a hole at the beach only to have it collapse on them.

I could easily imagine a tyke thinking it would be fun to see how far he could tunnel in. I hope they have sifted through those piles completely. MOO

 

[sunspun]

This entire post is only my opinion. Josie with the shotgun demonstrated a rather angry affect, there's no denying that. Snake or no snake, there was a shotgun in hand, in addition to an extremely angry, loud, and confrontational tone...not to mention raising the barrel of that gun, said action in my estimation to be a definitive threat.

The comment I quoted, and linked the source article, " 'One day I will tell the story (about Gus).' ", said comment from Ronald Boland, Aboriginal tracker.....

Well known and publicized information detailing a strained, if not worse, relationship between Gus's father and Josie,

Even at 4 years old, I can easily see how that young boy would be quite knowledgeable of the lay of the land, including immediate farm buildings, and also those farther away. I just don't think he 'wandered off' and got lost. This child, and it's only my opinion, for now.... chose to escape the chaos.

I've settled on the idea that things around that farm weren't necessarily peaceful.... Gus purposely ran away, and may have even taken great pains to hide from anybody that might try and find him.

Aboriginal tracker who searched for Gus insists police will find him

The Aboriginal tracker tasked with helping find missing South Australian boy Gus Lamont makes a surprising revelation on the one-month anniversary of the four-year-old's disappearance.

www.dailymail.co.uk

All I know is I wouldn't want my little boy to be supervised alone with this grandparent. And I'm just going by the level of anger she displayed toward the reporter. But it makes me think I can see why it was Shannon, not Josie, who was left in charge of Gus by herself. Of course, whatever work Jess and Josie were doing away from the home that day might have been more suitable to Josie than Shannon, so that would also make sense why Shannon was left with Gus. But I keep asking, when Jess and Josie were off working away from the home, were they together at all times? For example, if they were tracking down wayward sheep, maybe they split up, to search in different directions, to cover more ground. How long were they away from the home? Did each of them know the other's whereabouts the entire time? I realize we probably don't have answers to these questions, but it's something to think about.

 

[SouthAussie]

.... so that would also make sense why Shannon was left with Gus.

For all we know Shannon may always have been the primary carer for the children during work hours. With Jess helping Josie to run the sheep station ... seeing that one day the sheep station will likely belong to Jess.

The day that Gus disappeared may have been a very typical day at the property, until Shannon couldn't find Gus.

imo

 

[Serononin]

What do we know about how well the sand pile(s) (where Gus was last seen playing) have been searched?

I keep thinking of the kids who dig a hole at the beach only to have it collapse on them.

I could easily imagine a tyke thinking it would be fun to see how far he could tunnel in. I hope they have sifted through those piles completely. MOO

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the police have said anything about searching the sand piles specifically

 

[Andreee]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the police have said anything about searching the sand piles specifically

I haven't seen info. in that regard either, but I assume they did! I do hope the sand piles were dismantled completely, just on the off chance there is anything at all buried in them.

 

[LookingForClues]

I'm fascinated by how our personal reality and life experience dictate our reaction to the way a grieving and stressed grandparent responds to intrusive members of the media who ignore repeated requests to stay away.

Many of you know I'm a former newspaper editor. I would have respected this family's request. And if one of "my" reporters insisted on ignoring that very public request, I would have suggested perhaps they should consider working for a less reputable newspaper. There will always be tabloid journalism because there is enough public demand for it. But that doesn't mean it's right. And it certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't push back and expect professionalism, ethical behavior and basic common decency. There are other ways to break a news story...if there's a story to break.

 

[seasideForest]

There's two points that occurred to me on reading your ideas.

1) I keep in mind the way the DM has edited their story and embedded the quote, by design Imo, in an aura of mystery and ambiguity. Moo I'm aware that innuendo is a DM speciality and as far as I'm concerned it's deliberately manipulative on the writer's/editors part. Ie let's label it cryptic. The aim is to manipulate readers into this sort of speculation in my opinion. That is my opinion of the style and it's purpose. It's about Clicks. And tapping in to the desire for mystery.

2). Yes Josie directed much anger at the DM reporter. Consider the circumstances. They are known to all:
a) past inflammatory writings unnecessarily dramatizing personal information in typical insinuating style to encourage gossip and unfounded speculation combined; with
b) ignoring the reasonable and public directions to the media to leave the family alone and not enter their private property chasing comments; and
c) most important of all in my view,
that very afternoon officials had started arriving to set up a drain of the dam for the next day. It's not hard to imagine the anxiety and grief anticipating what might happen. Then this intrusive reporter turns up at that extremely sensitive time, despite all the requests and warnings that all other outlets have respected.

RSBM
And there we have it: a summary including examples of why a number of us on WS don't like DM even tho it's allowed media. MOO

 

[Ellery84]

I'm fascinated by how our personal reality and life experience dictate our reaction to the way a grieving and stressed grandparent responds to intrusive members of the media who ignore repeated requests to stay away.

Many of you know I'm a former newspaper editor. I would have respected this family's request. And if one of "my" reporters insisted on ignoring that very public request, I would have suggested perhaps they should consider working for a less reputable newspaper.

I'm curious as to how many times you asked a reporter to door knock a house. Can you tell us about how that works because I'm quite fascinated by the process.

There will always be tabloid journalism because there is enough public demand for it. But that doesn't mean it's right. And it certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't push back and expect professionalism, ethical behavior and basic common decency.

I agree - there are other ways to break a news story. I'm interested to see what is next in this case, and how can we get closer to finding Gus?

There are other ways to break a news story...if there's a story to break.

 

[Ellery84]

I think she was there the day before and tried to gaslight Josie and Shannon by saying she was just following the convey.

That's incorrect. Can you please provide a link to support your assertions?

 

[Bigditch]

Even by Jonica Bray's own report, it is evident that the photographer then took footage. (which then was published nationwide)
While trespassing on the private property.


Ms Bray replied that she 'was leaving' already.
'Shut your face and get out,' Josie yelled back. Both the reporter and the photographer who accompanied her then left the property.

Gus Lamont's grandmother waves pump-action shotgun at reporter

Daily Mail went to speak to Josie Murray on Wednesday afternoon but after we offered our sympathies to the family, she waved a gun.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Section 3 of the Surveillance Devices Act 2016 (SA) defines a public place to include:

• A place to which free access is permitted to the public with the express or implied consent of the owner or occupier;
• A place to which the public are admitted on payment of money only;
• A road, street, footway, court, alley, or thoroughfare the public are allowed to use

Photography and film in public places

www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au

To use the phrase trans grandmother in the article header is in poor taste. Imo

 

[Kemug]

I really feel for little Ronnie - not right now, but in the future when he's more aware.

 

[jepop]

The gun was not directly pointed at Jonica. She has taken stills from the video ( after editing from the initial upside down one she posted ) with the gun being lifted up & pointing to the air & again lowered & pointing to the ground.

This shows her clear intent to deceive her viewers IMO

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7567226635854892306

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7567884258069450002

Yeah, you know this is not a case of inadvertent misinformation. Ms Bray with I assume the blessings of her employer is in the business of manufacturing false content like some random youtuber. IMO

Moo this amounts to the deliberate spread of disinformation and is fraudulent. Manufactured and reported nationally. Moo

 

[essareem]

So, do any of the commenters here actually own guns? And have gone through gun licensing etc?

I'm asking because one of the first and most basic rules you are taught is to never point the muzzle at anything you don't intend to kill. The muzzle should never point (even momentarily, during a change of position) towards another person.

Like, basically if you are going to change the position of the gun from pointing at the ground to pointing up in the air, you need to be sure that the entire arc of the muzzle is safe.