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

[Breezyflavor]

Hey everyone, DM is a legit source, but the article that was shared was more local lore (related to law enforcement & an older, unrelated crime) and it all brought the thread entirely off topic... People were reporting posts, that's why they were removed.

(Edit: please feel free to message me with any questions!)

 

[nao]

Dbm

 

[nao]

Murray Mallee Region

Yunta area was mentioned but I do not know the regions there.

 

[Total_C]

Thanks for a really interesting and informative post.! Really well laid out and makes sense to me.

re the paragraph I bolded above,
I just wanted to note that in fact there was extensive volunteer community searching in the first week. Both police and the family (through their statement) praised and were grateful for this help. Links in my most recent post and much more via extensive coverage by the ABC and local SA media.

Not sure but think there may not have been much diversity of sources posted on the threads here, possibly an over reliance on the DM?. Idk but the community rallied and their assistance was gratefully received in the first week before the search tragically shifted to a likely recovery and was scaled back. Moo

This is a fantasitic post.

Im in brisbane for the week for work and i want to be able to take the time to respond in a considered way.

Can you please give me until the weekend to work through this?

 

[Ellery84]

This crime mapping Tool by SA Police shows not alot of crime in the recent years . You can search by postcode. Postcode for Oak Park Station is 5440. I searched by this postcode.



2024-2025

4 crimes

https://data.sa.gov.au/data/dataset/crime-statistics/resource/4a553fc6-71fe-4dac-8096-c29abc269c76?inner_span=True&filters=Postcode%20-%20Incident%3A5440

2023-2024

1 crime ( Homicide )

2022-2023

Not loading for some reason!

2021-2022

5 crimes

2000 - 2021

6 crimes

2019 - 2020

3 crimes

2018 - 2019

13 crimes

2017 - 2018

10 crimes

2016 - 2017

12 crimes

2015 - 2016

12 crimes

2014 - 2015

20 crimes

2013 - 2014

17 crimes

2012 - 2013

16 crimes

2011 - 2012

16 crimes

2010 - 2011

17 crimes

No data before 2010

Most of these crimes seem to be theft.

I'm guessing Gus' disappearance may have been a case of attempted theft/robbery, and the offender has seen Gus there instead, and has decided to change their plan and take him, instead of whatever else they were planning to steal...

Imo

 

[Ellery84]

For those who can't imagine how big the property is that Gus disappeared on, this video is actually pretty good. It accurately shows the Grampus land parcel that the Oak Park homestead (and Bullyaninnie homestead) are situated upon:

TikTok - Make Your Day

I have also attached the map from the Daily Mail article that shows the division of land boundaries and names of stations and land packages out Yunta way.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

To be honest I do not remember a single case where a career burglar would decide to take a kid instead of valuable items.

RSBM - I agree. They don't have quite the ease of sale on the street.

 

[su5ie]

Thank you for the kind words. At one point, I posted something similar on Lilly & Jack's case, but it didn't gain much traction. If you wish to share it, that's fine. Or I can repost it there myself.

Yes best repost yourself

 

[Hercule Holmes]

For those who can't imagine how big the property is that Gus disappeared on, this video is actually pretty good. It accurately shows the Grampus land parcel that the Oak Park homestead (and Bullyaninnie homestead) are situated upon:

TikTok - Make Your Day

I have also attached the map from the Daily Mail article that shows the division of land boundaries and names of stations and land packages out Yunta way.

Is it known which direction his mum and grandma travelled the 10km's? If they were anywhere in a north, north east direction from the homestead, you'd think they'd have to notice a vehicle entering and or leaving.

If they were literally 10km from the road though, and presumably occupied with what they were doing, would they notice? Would Shannon necessarily see a vehicle and resultant dust, if she was busy with the 1 year old? Particularly if it stopped at the last gate and the occupant intended to walk the 320 metres to the homestead?

I think theft as a motive is unlikely, and being Saturday evening, you wouldn't expect a legitimate reason for a delivery of some sort. However, it may be a time someone could have been looking to inquire about the possibility of future work? Gus sees the person coming, or maybe had already wandered in that direction?

The total lack of any evidence after 5 weeks and the smallish window before dark on the first day, make wandering a large distance extremely unlikely IMO. If they've missed him, he has likely come to grief in the vicinity of the homestead. It would have to be in a sealed location though, to explain no human or animal detecting any smell. What options are there, where he could enter and get stuck? An old fridge or a water tank are all I can think of, but surely they have triple-checked those type of options?

 

[Dotta]

I remember reading once
that a missing person got stuck in a space under the roof in the attic.
And was only found by chance by a Policeman who went there searching for something else, looked up and saw strange shape.

Not to mention people stuck in chimneys or some kind of crawling spaces.



I think Gus is near the house or in the house itself trapped somewhere.

JMO

 

[Andreee]

I remember reading once
that a missing person got stuck in a space under the roof in the attic.
And was only found by chance by a Policeman who went there searching for something else, looked up and saw strange shape.



JMO

Wow, I've heard about people getting stuck in chimneys, but that is really a freak accident, and horrible to think about...or come across.

 

[Dotta]

Wow, I've heard about people getting stuck in chimneys, but that is really a freak accident, and horrible to think about...or come across.

I remember this case
because as a child I absolutely loved climbing all kinds of ladders to various attics while spending holidays at grandparents' place in the country.

Especially climbing a ladder in the barn where hay was stored.
Once I even walked on the sloping roof to adults' horror.
I was warned not to do this
but, unfortunately, I never paid attention.

 

[RedHaus]

While I have not been a prolific contributor on this case thread, I have been engaged.

Perhaps its time for a synopsis of theories on the table, launching off of @Hercule Holmes' fine post ^.

And I have a new theory to add at the end, that I don't think I've seen here before.

This is in NO particular order... and NONE of these theories have public facts to support them, so they are just best guesses.

1. Gus wandered far from the homestead and his remains are on the property somewhere (deceased).

2. Gus is stuck and trapped somewhere on or very near the homestead, possibly inside or outside of his house (deceased).

3. Gus was abducted with malintent by a visitor, passerby, burglar, or someone who targeted the young lad (deceased or alive).

4. Gus ran away from the homestead, got lost or held firm to his hiding position, succumbing to elements / animals (deceased).

5. Gus was accidentally hit by a vehicle or had a fatal accident on the property or homestead and it was covered up (deceased).

And my theory, FWIW, perhaps with wishful thinking at this point...

6. Gus was taken into hiding by a family friend or member to protect him from something, real or imagined (alive).

Please feel free to add to this list, digest this list, or ignore this list.

IMO.

 

[kiwi50]

While I have not been a prolific contributor on this case thread, I have been engaged.

Perhaps its time for a synopsis of theories on the table, launching off of @Hercule Holmes' fine post ^.

And I have a new theory to add at the end, that I don't think I've seen here before.

This is in NO particular order... and NONE of these theories have public facts to support them, so they are just best guesses.

1. Gus wandered far from the homestead and his remains are on the property somewhere (deceased).

2. Gus is stuck and trapped somewhere on or very near the homestead, possibly inside or outside of his house (deceased).

3. Gus was abducted with malintent by a visitor, passerby, burglar, or someone who targeted the young lad (deceased or alive).

4. Gus ran away from the homestead, got lost or held firm to his hiding position, succumbing to elements / animals (deceased).

5. Gus was accidentally hit by a vehicle or had a fatal accident on the property or homestead and it was covered up (deceased).

And my theory, FWIW, perhaps with wishful thinking at this point...

6. Gus was taken into hiding by a family friend or member to protect him from something, real or imagined (alive).

Please feel free to add to this list, digest this list, or ignore this list.

IMO.

My best guess is #4 followed closely by #1.
#6 is possible
If it was #2 I think he would have been found by now.
#3 and # 5 I find unlikely.
The reason number #4 seems more likely is that I read somewhere he may hide from strangers, if it was a stranger he heard looking for him, he may have hidden, especially if he thought they sounded angry.

 

[wallyworld]

This is in NO particular order... and NONE of these theories have public facts to support them, so they are just best guesses.

1. Gus wandered far from the homestead and his remains are on the property somewhere (deceased).

2. Gus is stuck and trapped somewhere on or very near the homestead, possibly inside or outside of his house (deceased).

3. Gus was abducted with malintent by a visitor, passerby, burglar, or someone who targeted the young lad (deceased or alive).

4. Gus ran away from the homestead, got lost or held firm to his hiding position, succumbing to elements / animals (deceased).

5. Gus was accidentally hit by a vehicle or had a fatal accident on the property or homestead and it was covered up (deceased).

And my theory, FWIW, perhaps with wishful thinking at this point...

6. Gus was taken into hiding by a family friend or member to protect him from something, real or imagined (alive).

Please feel free to add to this list, digest this list, or ignore this list.

7. Gus could have hidden in the vehicle before Gus’s mother and a grandparent went to tend the sheep. He got out when the vehicle stopped, continued to hide and has been left behind.

 

[Springs4]

I don't think the gun was even loaded. In the DM's Tik Tok video that I posted earlier (the video has now been taken down and the link I posted is now invalid) you could see the ammunition in Josie's other hand. I could see the brass ends of it. They actually showed a close-up of it.

Even in the video that is still available on the DM's YouTube channel, you can see Josie's other hand wrapped around something (the bullets).

I think she may have exhibited an empty rifle to scare the trespassers, and it worked.

imo

Can't possibly know if the gun was loaded or not. IF grandparent was looking to shoot a snake, it is quite possible that there was one bullet in the gun & a spare in the other hand (in case of missing with first bullet). Either way, it is a dangerous practice to handle a gun that way

 

[kurtneverdied]

While I have not been a prolific contributor on this case thread, I have been engaged.

Perhaps its time for a synopsis of theories on the table, launching off of @Hercule Holmes' fine post ^.

And I have a new theory to add at the end, that I don't think I've seen here before.

This is in NO particular order... and NONE of these theories have public facts to support them, so they are just best guesses.

1. Gus wandered far from the homestead and his remains are on the property somewhere (deceased).

2. Gus is stuck and trapped somewhere on or very near the homestead, possibly inside or outside of his house (deceased).

3. Gus was abducted with malintent by a visitor, passerby, burglar, or someone who targeted the young lad (deceased or alive).

4. Gus ran away from the homestead, got lost or held firm to his hiding position, succumbing to elements / animals (deceased).

5. Gus was accidentally hit by a vehicle or had a fatal accident on the property or homestead and it was covered up (deceased).

And my theory, FWIW, perhaps with wishful thinking at this point...

6. Gus was taken into hiding by a family friend or member to protect him from something, real or imagined (alive).

Please feel free to add to this list, digest this list, or ignore this list.

IMO.

#5 then #3. I'd hope #6.
I posted not long after about perhaps a worker or someone that knows the family accidentally hit him in the dark driving. It was grand final day too so alcohol and/or a hoon drive. Though of course there was no sign of an accident if the road has been thoroughly checked for blood etc. Unless it wasn't a big hit but still enough.
An accident and someone found him who was panicked or afraid of the consequences from someone or police seems probably highest on my logical chances of probabilities.
#1, #2, and #4 I'm ruling out, presuming everywhere has been checked thoroughly.

 

[TMich6811]

IMO there isn’t a 3rd party involve at all.

Imo 2 scenarios -

- wandered/got stuck - I don’t feel he wandered since they made it a point to say he doesn’t wander. Mom and grandmother going to tend to sheep seems like a normal life thing so not a trigger to wandering imo. The only wandering I could see is if he didn’t want to be with who he was left with for some reason.

Or

- something happened within the family. Nothing to support this at this time

I think it’s possible a slight Combo of both - afraid and hid, left for longer than should have been etc.

 

[drsleuth]

‘We’re still committed’: Police vow to find missing Gus Lamont

The four-year-old has been missing since September 27.

7news.com.au

Gus Lamont: SA Police return to remote Yunta property for fourth time in search for missing boy​

South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Wednesday reaffirmed the force’s commitment to finding Gus.

“We will be going back to the property to conduct further searches based on further analysis of data and further advice,” he said.

“We are continuing to go back because we are still committed to recovering Gus, for the family and so everybody has some sense of closure in relation to exactly what’s occurred up at Yunta.”

Police say there is no evidence anyone has harmed Gus.

“There is no evidence of foul play at this time but, as I’ve said publicly before, we are still open to any possibilities that might have resulted in Gus having gone missing,” Stevens said.

 

[Marg944]

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says fourth search for Gus Lamont possible​

“On Wednesday, Mr Stevens said police could return to the property for a fourth time, depending on advice from experts and “further analysis of data”.”

More to come.

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/sa-police-commissioner-grant-stevens-says-fourth-search-for-gus-lamont-possible/news-story/c34b7ebe12cb03f53961e56890e7b3d7