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

[TardisGirl]

I’ve always wondered if the sand pile caved in on him. Seemed an unsafe place to play IMO

 

[jepop]

As you may know, until someone is identified by LE as a suspect or POI, it is literally against WS rules to suggest they are guilty. Especially family members.

It's not that no one here suspected this might be the outcome, but that it's not permitted to say so on WS in advance of LE designation.

Yes, WS is victim friendly. IMO the rules in this area serve the purpose of keeping rumour and unbridled victim blaming out and credible sources in, as well as keeping the threads on topic. Credible sources are certainly LE ( unless properly sourced msm reports otherwise) and WS is LE supportive.

Just because a family member is now officially considered a suspect, it does not mean that keeping rumour and victim blaming under control on this thread was wrong.

<modsnip>That's one big reason why I post here and not on Reddit for eg!
Jmo

 

[Poirot's niece]

I recall reading that there was conflict between Gus’ father and JM, which is why he didn’t live on the property. That Jess still did while the grandparents had primary custody could point to a very controlling coercive family dynamic, imo.

Where did you read that? Link please, thanks.

 

[kiwi50]

I still have a feeling that the family were treated far differently than your average family who had a missing child under strange circumstances, by the Police. It felt that the family had been given protection? I would have thought a search warrant would have been issued immediately and wouldn’t need special permission, especially as it is such a mysterious case? IMO

Totally agree with this. It’s like the police have had to tiptoe on glass in this case.
I am very impressed with the discretion shown by police.
Those photos taken by the special cameras were amazing, no wonder it took time to analyse them.

 

[Marg944]

“Asked whether the suspect was still living at the property, Superintendent Fielke said he could not provide further detail, but said they had secured legal representation.”

Gus disappearance declared major crime, suspect identified

South Australian police have declared the disappearance of Gus Lamont a major crime and say a person who has lived at his outback property is now considered a suspect, but have stressed that the boy's parents are not under investigation.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

I still think this is possible, or another accident. The trampoline was in a crazy position...

Could have been an accident, and someone couldn't bear for Gus' parents to know what foolish and deadly thing happened. So the story started, and continued.

imo

 

[Marg944]

I wonder if the grandparent is being held in custody?

IMO



“Superintendent Fielke said the suspect was not one of Gus’ parents.”

““I can’t give you any more information about the suspect or where the suspect is and why that person is a suspect.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/police-to-give-update-on-search-for-gus-lamont-4-missing-in-remote-south-australia/news-story/110d29a74cadf03d2e75797ed24b0b89

 

[Marg944]

I keep refreshing the South Australian criminal court listings…. I don’t think it will be long before they are charged……

https://www.courts.sa.gov.au/case-lists/all-criminal-cases/

 

[SouthAussie]

I wonder if the grandparent is being held in custody?

IMO



“Superintendent Fielke said the suspect was not one of Gus’ parents.”

““I can’t give you any more information about the suspect or where the suspect is and why that person is a suspect.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/police-to-give-update-on-search-for-gus-lamont-4-missing-in-remote-south-australia/news-story/110d29a74cadf03d2e75797ed24b0b89

I think the suspect would have to have been arrested to be in custody?

imo

 

[whitelilac]

Oh wow, just learning about this. How awful. Poor little Gus, what on earth happened here to lead to this crime? Major crime, not accident?
I was always a bit perplexed by Dad and JM having a seemingly major issue, and his words about the dangerous conditions there.
My God, wasn't Gus to move in with his father in the near future, for school, or am I wrong about that.

 

[Detechtive]

I think the suspect would have to have been arrested to be in custody?

imo

They could just be in the police station with their lawyer giving a statement - like what happened in the Erin Patterson case. They charged her later that night but she was there most of the day.

 

[SouthAussie]

Not sure if the official police statement has been posted here yet.

Noticeable that they want to return Gus to his parents, not his family. imo

“We are all focussed and determined to locate Gus and return him to his parents.’’

https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-police-news-assets/add-to-all-lsas/disappearance-of-gus-lamont-declared-a-major-crime

 

[Sdow]

Oh wow, just learning about this. How awful. Poor little Gus, what on earth happened here to lead to this crime? Major crime, not accident?
I was always a bit perplexed by Dad and JM having a seemingly major issue, and his words about the dangerous conditions there.
My God, wasn't Gus to move in with his father in the near future, for school, or am I wrong about that.

You're absolutely right. I remember reading that at some point. It's awful when these things happen but even worse when there are other circumstances like the fact that he was not going to be there much longer that break my heart even more. Almost preventable (whatever happened).

 

[Detechtive]

Where did you read that? Link please, thanks.

Like I said above I can’t recall but I’ll get back to you when I find it.

 

[SouthAussie]

Oh wow, just learning about this. How awful. Poor little Gus, what on earth happened here to lead to this crime? Major crime, not accident?

I think that involuntary manslaughter is classified as a major crime in South Australia, and a fatal accident can be involuntary manslaughter.

imo

Voluntary & Involuntary Manslaughter Defence Lawyers in SA

Manslaughter is a very serious offence. We highly recommend seeking legal advice as soon as possible, even before being charged by the police.

www.caldicottlawyers.com.au

 

[katydid23]

I don’t know why that always happens here. We all know the stats - it’s nearly always a close family member.

Right. But I've also seen cases where fathers or uncles have been unfairly accused, with lots of horrid untrue accusations. It's devastating for a father to be attacked online when it was really a pervert that killed his child.

So I get it. We need to have some evidence first.

Maybe the Son-in-law is innocent. I feel very suspicious but I could be wrong.

[like Elizabeth Smart's father maybe? Everyone accused him of being involved. And only thing he was guilty of was meeting a homeless guy and giving him odd jobs at his home]

 

[_sleuthdog_]

Like I said above I can’t recall but I’ll get back to you when I find it.

Think you might struggle to find it.

From my understanding from the update today, the suspect is not in custody and is not co-operating with the police. My opinion is that they are at Oak Park. Police did say that they are looking at the forensic evidence and they expect those results soon - depending on what they find at that time we might then hear further update regarding the suspect/case.

 

[_sleuthdog_]

Maybe the Son-in-law is innocent. I feel very suspicious but I could be wrong.

All evidence and updates by the police so far state the father is in the clear and that is also my opinion.

 

[BreakingNews]

They would have only been granted a warrant if new information came to light, imo - which seemed to occur on January 10.

Police don't need new evidence to seek a search warrant. They only need to convince a magistrate or JP they had enough to issue a search warrant.

 

[seasideForest]

Like I said above I can’t recall but I’ll get back to you when I find it.

FWIW I remember reading that too, way, way back in the case.