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

[Cagney&Lacey]

Putting Shannon's account of events aside and without any statements from Jess, we don't know when Gus was last seen alive. This could add 24 hours or more to the timeline. I understand with early starts required for farming Jess may have not seen Gus in the morning of the day of his disappearance. I would doubt that a mother would go to sleep without sighting her son so that leaves the entire day unaccounted for

 

[Bats]

I do not trust DM reporters, and object to approaching the family home when told not to.

However, unfortunately, my trust in the SA police was not helped by the claim that Josie Murray was waving a gun while speaking to the DM reporter because Josie had wanted to shoot a snake on the porch....

*Respectfully edited by me...

I think you're being a little harsh on the police here.

Given what we know now, the police were probably thinking...OMG we're right in the middle of a sensitive police operation and these silly twits are going to ruin it for us. What are are we to do, slap a possible suspect with a misdemeanour and have the whole plan ruined? It's clear they had much more important things to deal with, one being keeping the lines of communication open...not have a possible suspect clam up.

IMO

 

[jepop]

Good call. I do remember wondering the same thing when first reading through the thread, but then saw it reported (at least by DM...). But you're right, it isn't clear if that's coming from police or just...one of the many inaccurate things that were swirling around MSM in the early days of all of this (for all we know, they were reading the speculation here and then reporting it as fact). So if it isn't something the police have mentioned directly, that's another thing to downgrade to the 'unverified rumors' pile, rather than the 'reported timeline with inconsistencies' pile.

Linked because found it mentioned in this one.

The mystery of angelic Gus, 4, who disappeared in the Outback

His grandmother says she saw him playing there at 5pm two Saturday evenings ago.Half an hour later, when Gus was called in for dinner, he had gone.

www.dailymail.co.uk

In regards to the official police statements and hence timeline I don't read the daily mail so I'm not in a position to talk about what's in the article you've linked. I think Police statements have been consistent on that aspect of the timeline.. I rely on the Police Statements exclusively and Australian msm who cite the content of those statements.

If I read a DM article I always analyse beyond the headlines before parsing out any possible 'facts' as opposed to editorial interpretation of them. A good example of inaccuracy and obfuscation in relation to some of the players in this case was just revealed by another poster.

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

Yesterday at 5:52 PM

“It can now be revealed the couple had separated before Gus vanished, with Ms Murray (Jess) and her newborn son, Ronnie, living with her parents, Shannon and Josie Murray, on the remote station.”

“Several sources have told the Daily Mail that Mr Lamont attended Oak Park station two days after his son vanished.

The family friend claims Mr Lamont got into a furious row with Jessica's father, Josie, during the desperate search, after previous disputes.

Gus's devastated mother, Jessica, 39, has never spoken or appeared publicly since her son vanished, but locals say she is...

• SouthAussie

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• 

ETA: Ha! I tried to read the link you attached to get to the actual content beyond the headline and lead in phrase, but like many of their articles this is an 'exclusive' unavailable to non- subscribers.

 

[Lemony]

*Respectfully edited by me...

I think you're being a little harsh on the police here.

Given what we know now, the police were probably thinking...OMG we're right in the middle of a sensitive police operation and these silly twits are going to ruin it for us. What are are we to do, slap a possible suspect with a misdemeanour and have the whole plan ruined? It's clear they had much more important things to deal with, one being keeping the lines of communication open...not have a possible suspect clam up.

IMO

I agree. It could have been a real headache for the police and potentially disruptive to the investigation. It's likely that they were trying to contain a lot more than we'll know.

"Silly twits" was probably the family-friendly version of what police were really thinking behind the scenes!

 

[SouthAussie]

Putting Shannon's account of events aside and without any statements from Jess, we don't know when Gus was last seen alive. This could add 24 hours or more to the timeline. I understand with early starts required for farming Jess may have not seen Gus in the morning of the day of his disappearance. I would doubt that a mother would go to sleep without sighting her son so that leaves the entire day unaccounted for

Similarly, I doubt a mother would leave for work without checking on her boys ... even if they were still sleeping.

But there certainly would be more than ½ an hour (5-5:30) that the police would be looking at.

imo

 

[gerardo20]

*Respectfully edited by me...

I think you're being a little harsh on the police here.

Given what we know now, the police were probably thinking...OMG we're right in the middle of a sensitive police operation and these silly twits are going to ruin it for us. What are are we to do, slap a possible suspect with a misdemeanour and have the whole plan ruined? It's clear they had much more important things to deal with, one being keeping the lines of communication open...not have a possible suspect clam up.

IMO

I agree they probably didn't want the incident to ruin their strategy.
I also stated I agree we should place trust in police.
But I don't think I am being harsh.

Many police do a great service with complex and dangerous, high stakes job.
But there are also some who do not, and certainly some errors of judgment that should not be ignored.

Unfortunately I have witnessed a very damaging case of mistaken police strategy. In a case I was privy to, the police were shown to have not done their job, to have shown bias, distorted evidence and not done the basic investigations required. It was affirming to hear a district court judge correct the police, point out their errors, and award costs against police for the case against a person who the judge said should never have had the charge taken to court. The person was also brutalised during the initial arrest, doubly victimising.

So, yes, I give the police the benefit of the doubt and respect and appreciate their work. But I also take what they say with a grain of salt....and that especially goes for officer who provided us with the snake story.

 

[Old Soul]

In regards to the official police statements and hence timeline I don't read the daily mail so I'm not in a position to talk about what's in the article you've linked. I think Police statements have been consistent on that aspect of the timeline.. I rely on the Police Statements exclusively and Australian msm who cite the content of those statements.

If I read a DM article I always analyse beyond the headlines before parsing out any possible 'facts' as opposed to editorial interpretation of them. A good example of inaccuracy and obfuscation in relation to some of the players in this case was just revealed by another poster.

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

Yesterday at 5:52 PM

“It can now be revealed the couple had separated before Gus vanished, with Ms Murray (Jess) and her newborn son, Ronnie, living with her parents, Shannon and Josie Murray, on the remote station.”

“Several sources have told the Daily Mail that Mr Lamont attended Oak Park station two days after his son vanished.

The family friend claims Mr Lamont got into a furious row with Jessica's father, Josie, during the desperate search, after previous disputes.

Gus's devastated mother, Jessica, 39, has never spoken or appeared publicly since her son vanished, but locals say she is...

• SouthAussie

• 
• 

ETA: Ha! I tried to read the link you attached to get to the actual content beyond the headline and lead in phrase, but like many of their articles this is an 'exclusive' unavailable to non- subscribers.

The YouTube video posted by @Dotta in post #4662 outlines essentially everything that was in the Daily Mail article.
The journalist addresses conflicting hearsay accounts of whether Gus’ parents are in a relationship or separated. Certainly nothing factually reliable in that last part of the video.

 

[SouthAussie]

Aah, well spotted, thanks. Sounds like Daily Mail’s usual strategy, huge clickbait headline with very tenuous rumours to back it up.

Often it seems they write these inflammatory articles to provoke a response from the people they are pursuing….dredging up photos from Jess Murray’s school years is really scraping the bottom of the barrel for new content.

Well, 4 days ago they said that Jess & Josh were living together - they had spoken with an Adelaide neighbour.
Yesterday they said they were living apart - possibly based on an Oct 2025 conversation with a friend?
Both articles by the same reporter.

Feb 6th:

S

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

Friday at 1:33 AM

As the eyes of the public and media return to Yunta, the Mail can also reveal the boy did not live at the station - as had been widely understood - and instead lived with his parents, Jessica Murray and Josh Lamont, and his one-year-old brother Ronnie at an Adelaide home which, according to property records, is in Shannon Murray's name.
A neighbour on the street said the family lived at the address - located 320km south of where Gus vanished without a trace - but also spent a lot of time with Jessica's parents at their outback sheep station.

'I only saw him probably a couple of weeks...

• spiritualdreaming

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• 
• 

 

[jepop]

The trouble is, we never knew what time the 2 returned from tending the sheep. So anything about that timeline is speculation.

Yea, It would certainly be useful to know what time they returned (I am assuming for this post that part of the timeline is not under question, rationale for this is below). I mean it could be that they returned after being called back by SM at around 5.30ish. And taking SM at her word, it could be that the three of them then really did search for Gus until approx 8.30 when it appears from reports that the police were called. Speculation, all of it.

Not knowing what inconsistencies were uncovered when police reviewed all family statements taken prior to returning to Oak Park in mid -Jan to explore those with family members, makes it very difficult to privilege one theory over another I think.

Having said that, at this point, because Police emphatically stated neither parent is suspect, I am still personally leaning towards the inconsistency being with SM, though not necessarily in terms of what she told police re 5 pm last sighting. I think she would have been consistent with that statement.

And the other two would have no way to confirm or deny 5pm last sighting, if they weren't present at 5pm. Basically to make that work, I own that I am assuming that JL never lied to police at any time and her and JMs accounts coincide . Jmo

In a scenario where speculation is that SM is suspect in Gus's initial disappearance (leaving aside questions around the disposal of this poor little boy's body), the inconsistencies may be related something else, maybe to do with where SM was during the time that family were searching. Maybe to do with conversations the three had re when to call police. Maybe both.

Another thought that crossed my mind in this scenario; if SM made a call to JM and JL to report she couldn't find Gus, maybe the timing of that (hypothetical) call has been discovered to be 'off' in some inexplicable way and inconsistent with when JM/JL actually received the (hypothetical) call. Maybe the inconsistency lies precisely in that space between when SM reported to others that she couldn't find Gus and when those others say that happened ( so it's possible searching by all three commenced considerably later than c5.30pm?).

Speculation and theorising only, and
just a rambling thought for today.

I have no coherent theory at all.

 

[musicaljoke]

Good point as to who consents. I can't see why it couldn't have gone something like this;

Police to parents; 'We would now like to release Gus' photo' ( explanation).

Parents to police; 'Ok. Whatever you think will help or might help' (discussion ensues about the best photo to release).'. Just Occam's razor speculation.

That's a possible conversation for sure. Given the mom's reclusive lifestyle, there might have been a reply such as, "We've never put pictures of our kids online. Let's keep looking for Gus and if we can't find him here on the farm, then please release the photo."

 

[jepop]

That's a possible conversation for sure. Given the mom's reclusive lifestyle, there might have been a reply such as, "We've never put pictures of our kids online. Let's keep looking for Gus and if we can't find him here on the farm, then please release the photo."

Yes, that would makes good sense too. The way I see it, there are plenty of alternate ways to view it which can exclude speculation of something dodgy or nefarious.

 

[jepop]

Well, 4 days ago they said that Jess & Josh were living together - they had spoken with an Adelaide neighbour.
Yesterday they said they were living apart - possibly based on an Oct 2025 conversation with a friend?
Both articles by the same reporter.

Feb 6th:

S

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

Friday at 1:33 AM

As the eyes of the public and media return to Yunta, the Mail can also reveal the boy did not live at the station - as had been widely understood - and instead lived with his parents, Jessica Murray and Josh Lamont, and his one-year-old brother Ronnie at an Adelaide home which, according to property records, is in Shannon Murray's name.
A neighbour on the street said the family lived at the address - located 320km south of where Gus vanished without a trace - but also spent a lot of time with Jessica's parents at their outback sheep station.

'I only saw him probably a couple of weeks...

• spiritualdreaming

• 
• 
• 

Excellent resource here SAua; this showcases an example of inconsistent statements/reporting over a short time period. Jmo

 

[FromGermany1]

One continuous chain with links and if the original link is corrupt then a conflation is formed.
1. What if GL is not playing outside where there are snakes which Josie later claims to use a rifle against a snake?
2. What if SM is performing another task, another errand outside and GL is injured and SM is unable to cope?
3. What if GL accidentally harms or injures RL and a crisis envelopes and the electronic devices, say laptop and mobile is used to research on how to remedy the crisis? This creates a set of dynamics that pulls the pieces together nicely.
4. We do not have any information about whether Ronnie was medically evaluated on the day Gus went 'missing' (?) to draw matters closer to our analysis of what happened?
Just my observations.

bbm
Who claimed, that SM was taking a walk alone, when little Gus played outside? I only remember vague at the moment ..... MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

bbm
Who claimed, that SM was taking a walk alone, when little Gus played outside? I only remember vague at the moment ..... MOO

I think you did .... I don't think anyone knows where you read it. imo

This was your post, and a reply.

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

Nov 5, 2025

I've read, Shannon cooked dinner, but I also have read, that she went for a walk. What is true?

Where have you read that Shannon went for a walk??

Shannon was inside the homestead looking after Ronnie.

Bombshell update in the hunt for missing toddler Gus Lamont

The search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont who vanished from his family's home five weeks ago is set to resume, cops say.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Shannon was inside the homestead looking after Gus' one-year-old brother Ronnie at the time.

• drsleuth

• 

 

[wulfmoon]

Didn't attach to post.

 

[Ruminations]

Well, 4 days ago they said that Jess & Josh were living together - they had spoken with an Adelaide neighbour.
Yesterday they said they were living apart - possibly based on an Oct 2025 conversation with a friend?
Both articles by the same reporter.

Feb 6th:

S

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

Friday at 1:33 AM

As the eyes of the public and media return to Yunta, the Mail can also reveal the boy did not live at the station - as had been widely understood - and instead lived with his parents, Jessica Murray and Josh Lamont, and his one-year-old brother Ronnie at an Adelaide home which, according to property records, is in Shannon Murray's name.
A neighbour on the street said the family lived at the address - located 320km south of where Gus vanished without a trace - but also spent a lot of time with Jessica's parents at their outback sheep station.

'I only saw him probably a couple of weeks...

• spiritualdreaming

• 
• 
• 

Im sure if you ask each one of my neighbors about my family and associates you will get a different version of what our relationships are like between one another.

I could tell one person how done I am with one family member because I'm thinking about one aspect of our relationship, then tell another how much I appreciate another, because of a different focus.

And I'm sure people make things up to fill in blanks. Car lent to a kid for a trip? Must mean someone moved out! Etc.

Then, of course, getting to the bottom of some of these mysteries still doesn't answer the question of what happened to little Gus.

I'm not at all uninterested in rumors and anecdotes about relationships swirling around the adults in Gus' life, as long as they are not mean or bigoted. (I appreciate the mods' cleanup of hate expressed here. ) When it is not hate, I like the gossip, and it can flesh out theories with human stories. But I am also aware that it really is very, very loosely related to the crime, if related at all, to learn these life details.

It's not going to solve the mystery to find out who is together, who has separated.

MOO

 

[SouthAussie]

Good observations. The only context we can rely on is what SAPOL have stated and that is the SM stayed with the 2 children whilst JM went off with JM to tend to sheep and then they came back. We cannot rely on the timeframe that had been given by SM as the police has questioned it's very nature of fact. Everything else is conjecture.
Is the sheep excursion timeline even made up? Is JM protecting SM and for what reasons?
MOO

I think Jess' police statement would say what they were doing. Presumably she made a police statement.

imo

 

[wulfmoon]

Yea, It would certainly be useful to know what time they returned (I am assuming for this post that part of the timeline is not under question, rationale for this is below). I mean it could be that they returned after being called back by SM at around 5.30ish. And taking SM at her word, it could be that the three of them then really did search for Gus until approx 8.30 when it appears from reports that the police were called. Speculation, all of it.

Not knowing what inconsistencies were uncovered when police reviewed all family statements taken prior to returning to Oak Park in mid -Jan to explore those with family members, makes it very difficult to privilege one theory over another I think.

Having said that, at this point, because Police emphatically stated neither parent is suspect, I am still personally leaning towards the inconsistency being with SM, though not necessarily in terms of what she told police re 5 pm last sighting. I think she would have been consistent with that statement.

And the other two would have no way to confirm or deny 5pm last sighting, if they weren't present at 5pm. Basically to make that work, I own that I am assuming that JL never lied to police at any time and her and JMs accounts coincide . Jmo

In a scenario where speculation is that SM is suspect in Gus's initial disappearance (leaving aside questions around the disposal of this poor little boy's body), the inconsistencies may be related something else, maybe to do with where SM was during the time that family were searching. Maybe to do with conversations the three had re when to call police. Maybe both.

Another thought that crossed my mind in this scenario; if SM made a call to JM and JL to report she couldn't find Gus, maybe the timing of that (hypothetical) call has been discovered to be 'off' in some inexplicable way and inconsistent with when JM/JL actually received the (hypothetical) call. Maybe the inconsistency lies precisely in that space between when SM reported to others that she couldn't find Gus and when those others say that happened ( so it's possible searching by all three commenced considerably later than c5.30pm?).

Speculation and theorising only, and
just a rambling thought for today.

I have no coherent theory at all.

Good observations. The only context we can rely on is what SAPOL have stated and that is the SM stayed with the 2 children whilst JM went off with JM to tend to sheep and then they came back. We cannot rely on the timeframe that had been given by SM as the police has questioned it's very nature of fact. Everything else is conjecture.
Is the sheep excursion timeline even made up to the extent that the time period is completely wrong to throw everything out? Is JM protecting SM and for what reasons?
MOO