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

[Bats]

“I anticipate there will be further searches at Oak Park Station and at several sites on an adjacent national park to locate Gus as new information and intelligence comes to hand as the investigation continues,’’ Det. Supt. Fielke said.
https://www.police.sa.gov.au/sa-pol...pearance-of-gus-lamont-declared-a-major-crime

To me, this statement reads like someone is telling them something and not phone data or the like trickling in.

Also, for the police to state they have a suspect, they'd have to have more than a story from someone changing a little over a few months. That's very light weight evidence to start calling someone a suspect. There's more to it....IMO

 

[Ellery84]

Sorry, the private road.

Ok, yeah no. One wouldn’t use the private road between Bullyaninnie station and Oak Park station to head into town from Oak Park afaik.

I think it’s unsealed and would be strictly off limits to civilians or non family. Imo.

You’d take the Barrier Highway and go South West from Yunta town, then turn left onto Rucioch Rd just after Nackara, then keep going through to Bullyaninnie Road to arrive at the Bullyaninnie homestead if you wanted to travel from Yunta to Bullyaninnie. Then if you were driving to Oak Park station from Yunta you would probably take Netley Gap Sturt Vale Road and then veer right onto Oak Park Road to then arrive at the Oak Park homestead from there.

However if one was driving from Oak Park to Adelaide one may want to cut through the Bullyaninnie station, but I am honestly not sure how drivable that road between the two homesteads is. It might be more of a pathway you would use for an ATV, a motorbike or a horse, and not a car or ute as such. Of course, you couldn’t cut through the stations if you weren’t family or an invited guest as it’s all private property there and we know what happens when one steps foot into Oak Park property uninvited.



Jmo

Of course, if someone who lives at Oak Park and is a suspect, for example, in a major crime, and was wanting to hide the body of a child - they might use a motorbike and not a car, so really they could have gone anywhere they liked…. In theory. They could have gone to Bullyaninnie.

IMO

 

[Ellery84]

Do you know what distance the two houses are apart through the private road?

From recollection it’s about 27 minutes drive. I’m not sure of the actual distance in km.

IMO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

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[imstilla.grandma]

The search for little Gus Lamont, who vanished from his family’s remote sheep station in September 2025, has taken a dramatic turn. South Australian police, returning to the vast Oak Park Station to scour for new evidence, have arrested a 75-year-old resident on firearm charges. While police insist the charges are "unrelated" to Gus’s disappearance, the arrest has reignited public interest and suspicion surrounding the case.

Gus was last seen playing outside at 5:00 PM on September 27. Thirty minutes later, he was gone. Initially treated as a wandering toddler case, the investigation has darkened over the months. Police have since declared it a major crime, admitting they "no longer expect to find Gus alive."

The 75-year-old suspect was charged with firearm offenses stemming from a previous search at the property. The police were careful to separate this from the missing person case, likely to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. However, the presence of illegal firearms at the very location where a child vanished paints a picture of a household operating on the fringes of the law.

Detectives from "Task Force Horizon" have been using drones, divers, and cadaver dogs to comb the 60,000-hectare property—an area so vast and rugged that it could easily hide secrets for decades. The "discrepancies" in family statements mentioned by Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke earlier this month suggest that the police believe the answer lies within the homestead, not out in the scrub.

https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/gus-lamont-missing-south-australia-police-search

 

[AmoryK]

Newbie here so apologies in advance for any mistake. I joined because of this case. I’ve been reading this thread for months but I might have missed pages, so sorry if I’m covering something already said.

My speculation only:

My mind keeps coming back to the motorbike. I know SAPOL took a few vehicles to test, but the motorbike stands out to me. In general, nobody would use a motorbike to move an alleged body, would they? It would be hard, slower, and far more visible than having someone stowed away in a car or truck. So…..maybe a motorbike was used because there was no other option: ie the ute was elsewhere.

Theory: (speculation, MOO) - If Jess had gone out that morning with Josie, them both taking the motorbike along in the ute (or maybe one of them riding it) so they’d have more flexibility, using the ute as a base while each doing a different task, but then something happens late afternoon, Shannon contacts them by walkie talkie, and Josie races back to the homestead on the motorbike. Josie discovers a dreadful scene and needs to think fast. Evidence must be removed - for concealment reasons, for their own sanity, and because Jess will be back in the ute soon. There’s limited time so Josie takes the ‘evidence’ a few miles away by motorbike, planning to go back to hide it more carefully later. Jess returns to be told that Gus has wandered off. Josie goes out to search on the motorbike, and while out hides the ‘evidence’ more thoroughly, maybe even on a nearby homestead. This would explain the delay in calling the police (to allow time to conceal the ‘evidence’, while reassuring Jess that Josie was busy driving around looking for Gus and would surely be back soon with him.)

The time discrepancies could be related to that alleged latter period when Josie allegedly goes out again to properly conceal the ‘evidence’. She might have said she was gone 20 minutes, driving a rough circle a mile or two out from the homestead but Jess said Josie was gone an hour.

And perhaps while two people might know of the ‘incident’, only one knows where the ‘evidence’ has been hidden, making it harder for the police to know where it might be if that person isn’t going to crack and tell them.

 

[Dotta]

Newbie here so apologies in advance for any mistake. I joined because of this case. I’ve been reading this thread for months but I might have missed pages, so sorry if I’m covering something already said.

My speculation only:

My mind keeps coming back to the motorbike. I know SAPOL took a few vehicles to test, but the motorbike stands out to me. In general, nobody would use a motorbike to move an alleged body, would they? It would be hard, slower, and far more visible than having someone stowed away in a car or truck. So…..maybe a motorbike was used because there was no other option: ie the ute was elsewhere.

Theory: (speculation, MOO) - If Jess had gone out that morning with Josie, them both taking the motorbike along in the ute (or maybe one of them riding it) so they’d have more flexibility, using the ute as a base while each doing a different task, but then something happens late afternoon, Shannon contacts them by walkie talkie, and Josie races back to the homestead on the motorbike. Josie discovers a dreadful scene and needs to think fast. Evidence must be removed - for concealment reasons, for their own sanity, and because Jess will be back in the ute soon. There’s limited time so Josie takes the ‘evidence’ a few miles away by motorbike, planning to go back to hide it more carefully later. Jess returns to be told that Gus has wandered off. Josie goes out to search on the motorbike, and while out hides the ‘evidence’ more thoroughly, maybe even on a nearby homestead. This would explain the delay in calling the police (to allow time to conceal the ‘evidence’, while reassuring Jess that Josie was busy driving around looking for Gus and would surely be back soon with him.)

The time discrepancies could be related to that alleged latter period when Josie allegedly goes out again to properly conceal the ‘evidence’. She might have said she was gone 20 minutes, driving a rough circle a mile or two out from the homestead but Jess said Josie was gone an hour.

And perhaps while two people might know of the ‘incident’, only one knows where the ‘evidence’ has been hidden, making it harder for the police to know where it might be if that person isn’t going to crack and tell them.

Welcome to Websleuths

 

[Dotta]

Who resides on the property B.
(Sorry the name is too difficult for me to spell hehe)
searched today?

Were the residents interviewed/interrogated by Police?

How could it be possible for a perp to enter a nearby farm to conceal a body???

How strange!

Honestly folks,
I'm not sure poor Gus will ever be found

Terrible, terrible case.

JMO

 

[AmoryK]

Who resides on the property B.
(Sorry the name is too difficult for me to spell hehe)
searched today?

Were the residents interview/interrogated by Police?

How would it be possible for a perp to enter a nearby farm to conceal a body?

How strange!

Is it possible the suspect might have had a helper? Someone who was told of an accident and offered to help, not to deceive but because they thought it would be the kindest thing to do in the circumstances?

While one suspect has been named, that doesn’t mean others (family or friends) didn’t help.

 

[Dotta]

DBM

 

[Warshawski]

The Oct incident has it's own set of circumstances and jmo isn't relevant here.

According to source below, bail isn't the norm for serious firearms offences. Imo if police had been unambigously "ordered off the property" via use of a weopen that would be a serious firearm offence and no bail would have been granted.

Bail was granted in the Magistrates Court per ABC report. Imo serious firearms offences would be escalated to a higher court. Jmo

See previous links and below.

Firearms Offences | South Australia | Criminal Lawyers Adelaide

This article by Williams Family Lawyers looks at the definition of family violence, resolution, intervention orders, and safety with attenting family law court.

www.williamslegal.com.au

I think it possibly was due to having firearms that were not properly stored.

Put simply, firearms must be stored ( unloaded ) in a locked steel cabinet that is bolted to the floor & wall. Ammunition must be in a seperate locked container.

https://www.police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/firearms-and-weapons/firearms-storage-and-security

 

[Warshawski]

Quoting from my above DM link:

" 'As a result of a previous search at Oak Park Station,
Task Force Horizon detectives
have today arrested a 75-year-old from Grampus and charged them with firearm offences',
a spokesperson said on Monday."

What does it exactly mean?
As a result of a previous search...

I think they discovered unsecured firearms previously, but held off on charges as the6 were at that time still trying to keep Josie & Co cooperative.
But since it’s all come to ahead, they’ve laid the charges, which probably gave them the opportunity to fingerprint .

Jmo.

 

[Dotta]

I think it possibly was due to having firearms that were not properly stored.

Put simply, firearms must be stored ( unloaded ) in a locked steel cabinet that is bolted to the floor & wall. Ammunition must be in a seperate locked container.

https://www.police.sa.gov.au/services-and-events/firearms-and-weapons/firearms-storage-and-security

Or....
The weapons were illegal.
Or maybe one wasn't registered.

Who knows how many weapons were there?
How many were legal and how many were not?

JMO

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023667752301719888

 

[Dotta]

"Fresh search for Gus Lamont ​

scours mineshafts and freshly-cemented outhouse ​

- as mystery over boy's disappearance deepens further.​

Two nearby properties were searched on Tuesday.

Search for Gus Lamont
will soon enter its sixth month.

A number of disused mine shafts were searched on the property.

Air units also scoured the property
but the search was called off on Tuesday evening with no trace of Gus."

Gus Lamont search ramps up as cops search outhouse and a water tank

Cadaver dogs have inspected a water tank and a recently cemented outhouse as the search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont continues.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[linge]

How many properties does this family have? Are they very wealthy? Is there a possibility that they have the means to secretly send Gus off somewhere like a boarding school or to another family member or family friend who homeschools instead of having him move to Dad's property for schooling?

I have no idea about their wealth, they probably have had some boom times but also some really tough years because of drought and low wool prices.

The Murray’s don’t seem short of money, pretty sure they could afford to pay a farmhand or two.

Assuming a close-fisted attitude to begin with, I don't know that actual wealth makes a difference to willingness to pay.

IMO, they could be land-poor, especially if the business is less profitable than it used to be. Meaning huge amounts of land that are technically worth a lot of money (if you have a buyer), but it's all a money-sink and they're struggling to keep up with the taxes, fees, maintenance, etc., they need, so very little to no liquidity and having to stretch to make day-to-day ends meet. Like the country manors in England still owned by titled old bloodline families that have been perpetually strapped for cash since the industrial revolution. You're only able to keep it in the family to pass it to the next generation if you live frugally, don't part with money you don't have to, economize. And that includes not hiring anyone on to do things you can reasonably do yourself, or have family do.

I wouldn't doubt they'd want J living there, helping, especially as they age and hard physical labor just keeps getting harder. I suspect it speaks to how deep the rift with JL is that they weren't willing to put aside their differences and keep the peace enough to have an extra pair of hands there to just being able to keep up with everything without having to hire in someone. MOO.

 

[linge]

They have surely interviewed the grandparents separately already. That's routine; no need to be secret about it.

Sure, almost certainly, particularly before the major crime designation when SAPOL was publicly stressing that no foul play was suspected and this was definitely a case of a lost child, no question (while quietly examining other possibilities). Probably while mostly being asked pretty straightforward questions to help guide searchers, with a few oblique ones slipped in. But from what we've heard, the major crime inquiry really took over pretty concurrently with when their suspect withdrew cooperation. They also stressed then that the rest of the family was still communicating with them. Since we all seem pretty sure that the suspect they were talking about was one of the two Murray grandparents, and last we heard they were still living together at Oak Park, it could be a real obstacle if one still wants to help and the other wants to refuse to give SAPOL anything, deny them access to the property without a warrant, etc, and wants the non-suspect grandparent to do the same. Being seen openly going against those wishes could be felt to be a betrayal...or a liability. So discretion could be pretty important, particularly since they don't live in the kind of place you can just slip away from for a little while without notice. Leaving the property is a planned event, and people want to know where you're going if it isn't expected; hearing 'I'm going to talk to the police' could be explosive. Particularly if the suspect is guilty of a major crime, and compounded if the non-suspect grandparent was involved in any way and so knows something to tell. MOO.

 

[Marg944]

The similarities to the search for little William Tyrrell are so sad…….

Ground-penetrating radar used on concrete slab in search for William Tyrrell​

“Detectives are using ground-penetrating radar to examine a slab of concrete at William Tyrrell's foster grandmother's home in the search for the missing boy's remains.”

Ground-penetrating radar used on concrete slab in search for William Tyrrell

www.9news.com.au

Police eye area of fresh concrete in renewed search for Gus Lamont​

“Police have searched a property where an area of fresh concrete has just been laid, in the now five-month search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont.

An area of newly-laid concrete has formed part of the police search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont in remote South Australia, almost five months on from his disappearance.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/police-eye-area-of-fresh-cement-in-renewed-search-for-gus-lamont/news-story/d279885efa89e51b783b5e97fe3da34b

 

[Marg944]

33K views · 230 reactions | The search for missing boy Gus Lamont continues in the South Australian outback today, with Major Crime detectives out in force scouring new locations. #9News | 9 News Adelaide

The search for missing boy Gus Lamont continues in the South Australian outback today, with Major Crime detectives out in force scouring new locations. #9News

www.facebook.com

 

[Sillybilly]

ADMIN NOTE:

Why all the sleuthing of family history at Bullyaninnie? Other than sensationalism, I can't see what an incident in 2009 has to do with Gus' disappearance.

Unless someone can show a direct relationship to this current missing person case, please stop sleuthing family history that contains living persons.

 

[Springplease]

https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/landscape/images/6173_ATO_April-2022_FINAL.pdf

I just wanted to post this link again that marg244 had previously posted it is a leaflet that looks like it just has just general news about the area but if you go to almost the end of it …page24 there is a lovely article about Bullyaninnie it’s history and Joy Betty who is Shannon’s aunt I believe.