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

[KBlackRabbit]

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

Same. If Gus’s disappearance was deliberate by an adult (looks now that it was) I never thought the father was the one who did it. He seemed to want to get the kids out of there because he knew something wasn’t right.

 

[steff13]

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

There was an article shared in this thread that established that the father and one of the grandmothers didn't get along and that the father believed that the residence was unsafe for the children. But the thread is now 200 pages, so it would take some work to find it.

 

[BreakingNews]

& gosh, wasn't anyone who suggested that scenario here in the early days, howled down & criticized

However LE would have had to go with the evidence they had at the time. As the presser states, they were focusing on 3 scenarios. Wandered off, abducted, insider involvement. I think a lot of us were following MSM at the time. How many times did the police say "Family are cooperating fully".

 

[KBlackRabbit]

“His family have declined to release an image of him.”

Yeah.

They also said he had a shovel. I wonder if it was really someone else who had a shovel.

 

[Kemug]

I reckon they’ve got statements from SM but also the vehicles and phone etc were seized on January 14th, so they surely have those results back now? I reckon a charge is imminent.

 

[Kemug]

I can imagine a certain gun-toting granny lashing out if annoyed or angry. Am I allowed to say that?

 

[BreakingNews]

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

imo

Dont they have 6 hours or something like that before they need to arrest? That's how Qld works.

 

[Detechtive]

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

It’s all over social media but I can’t find a media link so far.

 

[whitelilac]

I have to say, kudos to the investigators ! Very difficult case, they didn't give up.

 

[Sdow]

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]

I remember when Cleo Smith was abducted there were so many pointing the finger at the step dad. People were even looking an innocent photos of hand gestures and making them perverted. It was full on.

 

[JLZ]

However LE would have had to go with the evidence they had at the time. As the presser states, they were focusing on 3 scenarios. Wandered off, abducted, insider involvement. I think a lot of us were following MSM at the time. How many times did the police say "Family are cooperating fully".

I think we're all jumping to conclusions. Police wanted to do some searches, evidently there was a lack of consent because they got a warrant. The searches in question were probably of a private nature--say computer records rather than cavities capable of hiding a body. To get a warrant for those things police had to come out and declare the person a suspect. I'm not saying the suspicion isn't genuine. But the first suspect isn't always the last suspect.

 

[Detechtive]

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]

Fair point. Actually the US is way worse than us with this. It makes for interesting investigation but it would be terrible for people connected to suspects to be harassed by media and speculation

 

[Detechtive]

I think we're all jumping to conclusions. Police wanted to do some searches, evidently there was a lack of consent because they got a warrant. The searches in question were probably of a private nature--say computer records rather than cavities capable of hiding a body. To get a warrant for those things police had to come out and declare the person a suspect. I'm not saying the suspicion isn't genuine. But the first suspect isn't always the last suspect.

They executed the search warrant on January 14/15 though.

 

[steff13]

“His family have declined to release an image of him.”

Yeah.

They also said he had a shovel. I wonder if it was really someone else who had a shovel.

Not releasing a picture was weird. I read all the excuses about privacy and whatnot, but it was weird, IMO. Who says, "hey, I need help finding my kid, here's a vague description of him, good luck."

 

[Detechtive]

Not releasing a picture was weird. I read all the excuses about privacy what and whatnot, but it was weird, IMO. Who says, "hey, I need help finding my kid, here's a vague description of him, good luck."

So weird. Imo

 

[jepop]

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

And wouldn't covering up an accident, disposing of a body also be considered a major crime? I'm letting things gell for a bit before applying myself to theorising on who the suspect is at this point, what they are suspected of and what might have possibly gone down. I need to re-watch the presser as part of that process. Moo

 

[LadyL]

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

same

 

[Kemug]

Not releasing a picture was weird. I read all the excuses about privacy and whatnot, but it was weird, IMO. Who says, "hey, I need help finding my kid, here's a vague description of him, good luck."

As I said before, that could be a black eye on Gus in that photo. Perhaps it took a long time to find one that good.

 

[Bats]

Not releasing a picture was weird. I read all the excuses about privacy and whatnot, but it was weird, IMO. Who says, "hey, I need help finding my kid, here's a vague description of him, good luck."

Are you thinking the whole family is weird for not releasing images to the media?

Abduction was only an extremely slim likelihood. So, not weird at all in my opinion.

 

[katydid23]

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

That was something known and accepted and discussed by many of us back at the start. I remember reading about it too.

The father moved off of the Station into a small home in town and was trying to fix it up so his wife and 2 kids could join him there. It was in many of the early articles, IIRC.