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

[Dotta]

The case was transferred to the Missing Persons Investigation Section of SAPOL within the week of when Gus Went missing. A person may have been considered a suspect from day one. We aren't privy to that information. Neither do we know what evidence they gathered at that time.

I doubt that it took four months to start looking at a certain person as a suspect and then start looking for evidence.

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

I understand.

But...
The car, bike and electronic devices have only recently been collected for forensic analysis, no?

Or am I mistaken?

I understood
they were collected only after re-interviews (in January???)
when some doubts in timeline appeared.
And when the analysis of drones' footage showed no traces of Gus.

And only then we heard about the Suspect and the devices and vehicles taken.

But I thought that members of the family were checked thoroughly at the very beginning.
And all the devices + vehicles were collected then.

I thought it is a normal procedure in a missing person case.
Because time is of essence.
Vital evidence might be lost.

If there was foul play,
what evidence is still there after 4 months?

JMO

 

[Detective Willy]

I really don't think Gus is on the property and maybe he was not there when he was reported missing.

If Gus wandered off and died of natural causes, IMO he would have been found in the first week.

Police may have suspicions of what happened, but they will be playing the long game and comparing original statements to new statements and looking for discrepancies IMO.

If multiple people are involved, Police will be hoping that one eventually cracks under pressure.

I posted this 4 weeks ago and now that both grandparents have lawyered up, I think things will go quiet for a while again.

The Police wont show their cards until they have to and they wont want to make any mistakes by going too early. They will be waiting for the Ace of Spades to come out in the deck.

They will be hoping that the pressure becomes too much IMO.

 

[essareem]

Maybe unusual, but not unheard of.

Eg: TV personality Jo Silvagni was caught on camera lashing out at a reporter after her son, Tom Silvagni, was sentenced to six years’ jail for two counts of rape. Link

Many examples out there: The chef had shoved 7NEWS reporter Deanna Williams into a bench before grabbing another journalist's microphone. Link

What is your point in mentioning these outliers?

 

[wulfmoon]

If the adjoining Park is considered as a place in which Gus was hidden
then I'm a little pessimistic that the boy will be found.
It is déjà vu of Samantha M's situation
and never-ending, fruitless searches in all kinds of Parks.
She was never found

JMO

It would be hard to believe that the perpetrator would choose an area where Gus would be easily found so hiding the child somewhere where they cannot be found is paramount. We have to understand the psychology of the main individuals involved. We have to go back and see who assisted and who helped Police. Did we see any footage and photographs of Shannon assisting. I don't believe we have but she may have. Have we seen Josie out and assisting the Police. Yes we have. Why haven't we seen Shannon? We have been told that Shannon was the adult looking after the two children.
Was this an accident and then a cover-up? Or did someone commit murder? Why are the parents of Gus silent? We have been told that the parents are not the suspects. Surely the parents have voiced their conclusions to the Police and the Police are basing their findings on their statements.

 

[jepop]

It was obvious to me due to many reasons, but mainly the hostile and aggressive behaviour of one of the grandparents.

In Australian culture this is not normal.

RBBM. Moo
Context is needed if we are to begin discussing how JM aggressive behaviour, documented by one reporter on one occasion, could ( or should) have reasonably been taken as an indication of propensity for foul play in relation to Gus.

At the time that incident occurred, my opinion is we should remember that it was one media outlet which had not long before chosen to sensationally broadcast highly personal, private and irrelevant ( to Gus being missing) details about JM to the entire world.

Sorry, but given that as context and all the other at-the-time context attached to the incident during which JM's aggressive behaviour was reported on by certain media, I, for one, found it impossible to assume that this aggression must likely indicate a propensity for foul play in relation to Gus. IMO

As of now I don't feel any differently about that specific point ie that JM aggression as previously reported must now somehow obviously be equated with a propensity to hurt Gus. Jmo

EBM to bold part of OP post

 

[jepop]

The case was transferred to the Missing Persons Investigation Section of SAPOL within the week of when Gus Went missing. A person may have been considered a suspect from day one. We aren't privy to that information. Neither do we know what evidence they gathered at that time.

I doubt that it took four months to start looking at a certain person as a suspect and then start looking for evidence.

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

Whilst I don't think a specific suspect was likely being considered from day one, concurrent investigations and keeping options open, yes to within the first week. Jmo

 

[essareem]

Moo
Context is needed if we are to begin discussing how JM aggressive behaviour, documented by one reporter on one occasion, could ( or should) have reasonably been taken as an indication of propensity for foul play in relation to Gus.

At the time that incident occurred, my opinion is we should remember that it was one media outlet which had not long before chosen to sensationally broadcast highly personal, private and irrelevant ( to Gus being missing) details about JM to the entire world.

Sorry, but given that as context and all the other at-the-time context attached to the incident during which JM's aggressive behaviour was reported on by certain media, I, for one, found it impossible to assume that this aggression must likely indicate a propensity for foul play in relation to Gus. IMO

As of now I don't feel any differently about that specific point ie that JM aggression as previously reported must now somehow obviously be equated with a propensity to hurt Gus. Jmo

I've really flogged this topic to death previously, but here I go again.

It really worries me that so many people on this thread view the firearm incident as rational, innocent or justified. I truly hope the people that hold these views don't also hold gun licenses. IMO

Holding onto the gun while angrily confronting a journalist (instead of putting it away safely inside, calling police about trespass/nuisance, or simply closing the door) is disproportionate and irrational behaviour. IMO

The brief muzzle sweep across the direction of the journalist was extremely dangerous, unnecessary, and threatening. IMO

This incident tells me the grandparent responsible for this action lacks impulse control in high-emotion moments. IMO

Australian police and courts treat firearm displays in disputes very seriously due to the potential for escalation. Why they didn't act on this (that we know of, publicly) is strange to me, and perhaps tied to strategy. IMO

 

[jepop]

I've really flogged this topic to death previously, but here I go again.

It really worries me that so many people on this thread view the firearm incident as rational, innocent or justified. I truly hope the people that hold these views don't also hold gun licenses. IMO

Holding onto the gun while angrily confronting a journalist (instead of putting it away safely inside, calling police about trespass/nuisance, or simply closing the door) is disproportionate and irrational behaviour. IMO

The brief muzzle sweep across the direction of the journalist was extremely dangerous, unnecessary, and threatening. IMO

This incident tells me the grandparent responsible for this action lacks impulse control in high-emotion moments. IMO

Australian police and courts treat firearm displays in disputes very seriously due to the potential for escalation. Why they didn't act on this (that we know of, publicly) is strange to me, and perhaps tied to strategy. IMO

I'm NOT talking about the firearm incident in and of itself which is OT, please re-read my post. My point is equating aggressive behaviour directly to guilt without any context. This was the subject of your post, which I responded to.

ETA My post is JMO, with an explanation of why I hold that opinion that is all. I am explaining why I have a different opinion to yours. I am not trying to change your opinion, just express my own on the topic raised by you.

 

[hoodunnit]

Was it said what the category "detections of interest" meant? Does it mean that something living or recently deceased was detected but the program can't determine what type of animal? Or is it a tactful expression for "potential remains of a child", each instance of which would warrant priority on-ground examination?

BBM
I assumed things such as ground that looked disturbed. Possible burial sites?

 

[essareem]

I'm NOT talking about the firearm incident in and of itself which is OT, please re-read my post. My point is equating aggressive behaviour directly to guilt without any context. This was the subject of your post, which I responded to.

Reframing a firearm threat display as something that should be contextualised away doesn't change what it was: holding a gun while angrily confronting someone. That's not benign aggression... it's dangerous. Claiming it has no link to risk assessment feels (to me) like minimisation rather than objective analysis. IMO

The idea that it has zero bearing on any propensity for risk or poor impulse control under pressure seems inconsistent with how Australian authorities and most reasonable people view such conduct. IMO

It is not something you wave away with "the media did xyz first." IMO

The display was evidence of poor impulse control and willingness to escalate violently when angry or confronted. IMO

 

[wulfmoon]

Australian police and courts treat firearm displays in disputes very seriously due to the potential for escalation. Why they didn't act on this (that we know of, publicly) is strange to me, and perhaps tied to strategy. IMO

Because Josie claimed that he had just shot a snake and in this instance having a firearm in your hand is justified. But on film Josie has been seen in raising that firearm up in the air to his right.

 

[cckp72]

I've really flogged this topic to death previously, but here I go again.

It really worries me that so many people on this thread view the firearm incident as rational, innocent or justified. I truly hope the people that hold these views don't also hold gun licenses. IMO

Holding onto the gun while angrily confronting a journalist (instead of putting it away safely inside, calling police about trespass/nuisance, or simply closing the door) is disproportionate and irrational behaviour. IMO

The brief muzzle sweep across the direction of the journalist was extremely dangerous, unnecessary, and threatening. IMO

This incident tells me the grandparent responsible for this action lacks impulse control in high-emotion moments. IMO

Australian police and courts treat firearm displays in disputes very seriously due to the potential for escalation. Why they didn't act on this (that we know of, publicly) is strange to me, and perhaps tied to strategy. IMO

I completely agree with you on this. It was a very dark orange flag to me when it first happened.
In a previous post I mentioned in 'most normal' circumstances, the family will do anything to keep their loved ones in the news cycle, making pleas, even if its uncomfortable to do so.
Given what we know now it especially is worrisome because she was involved to some extent. That indicates to me they didn't want anyone snooping around bcus they might uncover the truth.