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

[BreakingNews]

Dbm

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

This is the later tracker who is, indeed, called Jason:

“Jason O'Connell, from Mid North Wildlife Rescue South Australia, volunteered his services within hours of Gus vanishing from his family's farm, drawing on decades of his SES training and specialist tracking skills to assist Major Crimes detectives.The veteran searcher said there are 'two locations off property' that had raised concerns with his team based on what they saw, heard or were told by family.”

Link:

Gus Lamont search focusing on a new area beyond farm where he vanished

Jason O'Connell, from Mid North Wildlife Rescue South Australia , volunteered his services within hours of Gus vanishing from his family's farm, drawing on decades of his SES training.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Bbm
I’m stuck on this, someone said something that raised suspicion very early on.

 

[Ruminations]

Bbm
I’m stuck on this, someone said something that raised suspicion very early on.

I don't blame you for being stuck on that. But it really is just a rumor. Reporters easily can get things twisted up. And people tend to answer in the affirmative to move a conversation along politely.

Maybe the searcher said something like, "it was odd that we observed X at location a." The reporter then asked, "so location X made you suspicious?"

The searcher could have thought, it wasn't really the weirdest thing he saw, and reply, "Yeah, but not like location Y."

Then the reporter jots down that there are two suspicious sites.

I sure wish I could see pics of what they saw on the search. Especially inside the house. My hinky meter would be on max alert if it did not look like dinner for Gus at least was ready, uneaten, and the house was mostly as it would have been at 5:30 in a home with a 4 year old.

MOO

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

The thing is it’s not a rumour. I read it in his own words …

 

[BreakingNews]

The thing is it’s not a rumour. I read it in his own words …

Where was it written? Or did you hear him say that on TV?

 

[AmoryK]

Where was it written? Or did you hear him say that on TV?

I think he made some comments on Facebook. It was discussed earlier in this thread. He also commented on others’ Facebook pages.

Here’s a report quoting Jason O’Connell soon after Gus vanished. I don’t think it’s the one the previous poster is referring to as I’m pretty sure that’s a FB or possibly blog page, but the article below says he was doubtful about the ‘wandered off theory’ very early on:

"The Police Are Lying": SES Veteran's Tragic Theory Rocks Gus Lamont Search as Footprint Fades and Outback Doubts Deepen in South Australia's Missing Boy Saga - News

🌟 "THE POLICE ARE LYING" – EXPLOSIVE WHISTLEBLOWER UNLEASHES GUS LAMONT'S DARK OUTBACK COVER-UP! 🌟 From the dust-choked heart of Australia's endless red hell,

fnnewsupdate.com

 

[Ruminations]

I think he made some comments on Facebook. It was discussed earlier in this thread. He also commented on others’ Facebook pages.

Here’s a report quoting Jason O’Connell soon after Gus vanished. I don’t think it’s the one the previous poster is referring to as I’m pretty sure that’s a FB or possibly blog page, but the article below says he was doubtful about the ‘wandered off theory’ very early on:

"The Police Are Lying": SES Veteran's Tragic Theory Rocks Gus Lamont Search as Footprint Fades and Outback Doubts Deepen in South Australia's Missing Boy Saga - News

🌟 "THE POLICE ARE LYING" – EXPLOSIVE WHISTLEBLOWER UNLEASHES GUS LAMONT'S DARK OUTBACK COVER-UP! 🌟 From the dust-choked heart of Australia's endless red hell,

fnnewsupdate.com

I think the rub is, it was obvious that Gus didn't wander off.

It seems to me that an agency that might have to prepare to present to a judge or jury wants to be able to express that it is obvious at a higher level of proof than searchers on the scene, who would be more focused on finding Gus than preparing a case.

If, as it appears, an adult did something criminal to Gus, the last thing LE wants is a failed prosecution. If LE capitulated that there was no sign of Gus too soon, or as soon as it was obvious to searchers and perhaps to LE, too, the defense could credibly assert that LE did not properly search for Gus, and instead just turned on the family and made accusations while they were in their darkest hour.

MOO

 

[AmoryK]

I agree @Ruminations It might also be that LE hoped to lull those involved into a false sense of security in the hope they might make an incriminating move or give themselves away somehow. Believing the family would also make it more likely the family would cooperate.

I don’t think we’re allowed to post FB links here but there are comments from Jason O’Connell there which give an idea of his thoughts.

 

[Ruminations]

I agree @Ruminations It might also be that LE hoped to lull those involved into a false sense of security in the hope they might make an incriminating move or give themselves away somehow. Believing the family would also make it more likely the family would cooperate.

I don’t think we’re allowed to post FB links here but there are comments from Jason O’Connell there which give an idea of his thoughts.

I'm not even sure that lulling anybody is the point.

I don't know what the Australian version is "beyond a reasonable doubt," is, but I'm sure that there is a standard of proof that is required before a conviction that leads to incarceration is obtained. Searching, searching and searching again makes it hard for the defense to convince a jury or judge that the searchers or LE could have missed something.

If anything, the extended time LE spent looking for a trail of Gus could scare the guilty, because it begins to look harder and harder to claim dingos, etc. And while one might bring up toddlers that traversed incredible distances overnight, etc., the fact remains that no matter how far Gus may have been able to travel, he couldn't have gotten anywhere without first being in the immediate area of the start point.

Even if LE thought it looked like Gus didn't just wander off the every evening they started looking for him, I don't see how they had a choice but go all out in case they were wrong, and, even if they were sure, in case they needed to build a case and didn't want the guilty to have the chance to say LE didn't properly look for him.

If Gus' body is not found, and LE has some evidence of which we are not aware suggesting a crime, they will doubly need to eliminate the wandered off defense.

LE did rule out abduction very early on, if I recall correctly. So even if the family never used the words that Gus wandered off, it was really the only explanation left that fit the timeline we were told.

MOO

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

I could hear the anguish in Jason’s voice when he said ‘he’s not there’.
And he was right.

 

[katydid23]

I think the rub is, it was obvious that Gus didn't wander off.

It seems to me that an agency that might have to prepare to present to a judge or jury wants to be able to express that it is obvious at a higher level of proof than searchers on the scene, who would be more focused on finding Gus than preparing a case.

If, as it appears, an adult did something criminal to Gus, the last thing LE wants is a failed prosecution. If LE capitulated that there was no sign of Gus too soon, or as soon as it was obvious to searchers and perhaps to LE, too, the defense could credibly assert that LE did not properly search for Gus, and instead just turned on the family and made accusations while they were in their darkest hour.

MOO

There is one big thing that still really bothers me about the story of Gus wandering off.

Thirty minutes later, Shannon is reportedly outside screaming his name, with no replies.

WHERE WERE JOSIE AND JESS AT THIS TIME?

No one has ever explained that , imo.

I'd assumed they were still out in the outer acres, perhaps heading back home.

I'd also assumed---perhaps incorrectly, that sounds carry pretty far. If people were searching for Gus, screaming his name, did J and J ever hear any of that?

OR were they already back at the homestead when Gus was determined to be missing?

I have not heard anyone describe when and where Jess and Josie learned that Gus was missing.

 

[AmoryK]

Yes, that’s just one of the many things we don’t know @katydid23 My guess for the lack of detail is that possibly Josie returned to Oak Park before Jess. Assuming there’d been a fatal ‘event’, the wandered off story was concocted at that time. Then Josie returns to Jess, maybe after helping with the ‘event’ (ie concealment), assures her Gus is fine, and they both return in the evening where they’re met by Shannon informing them she can’t find Gus. They join the hunt, but he’s nowhere to be seen (possibly Josie goes off in a vehicle to check more distant areas/continue with concealment), then police are called.

So, police can’t say that Josie and Jess returned at X o’clock because Josie had already been back prior to that. Announcing that Josie had returned alone prior to that would cast suspicion on Josie and generate a lot of questions.

All speculation and MOO.

 

[bruecbrian290]

Have LE searched where Josie and Jess were?

I haven't followed this forum much, but with what I have seen (or not seen I guess), not much has been said about searching the area they both were (have forgotten where they actually were).

What if something happened to Gus there, that Shannon had taken both kids out, but to see mum? If this is the case, that he had been taken there, there is the possibility of it being planned earlier in the day so no communication between any adults would have been needed.

All MOO, apologies if this has already been discussed and I missed it.

 

[AmoryK]

But that would require the involvement of Jess? It would also mean taking along little Ronnie too. It was reported that Josie and Jess were about 10km away. I don’t know but I’d think it would be unlikely Gus and his baby brother were taken out there, as it would be a pain and interrupt the work. Moreover, if there was an incident there, Jess would be aware of it. If there was an incident on the way back, she wouldn’t have been aware but she’d have told the police about the visit.

The simple answer is we don’t know because the police have said very little about the timings of that day.

 

[Ruminations]

Have LE searched where Josie and Jess were?

I haven't followed this forum much, but with what I have seen (or not seen I guess), not much has been said about searching the area they both were (have forgotten where they actually were).

What if something happened to Gus there, that Shannon had taken both kids out, but to see mum? If this is the case, that he had been taken there, there is the possibility of it being planned earlier in the day so no communication between any adults would have been needed.

All MOO, apologies if this has already been discussed and I missed it.

All we were told was that Josie and Jess were about 10 km north of the homestead.

Presumably, the large radius that LE searched included wherever Josie and Jess were, but as far as I know, the public is unaware of where exactly they were.

Nor do we know for how long they were wherever, and when they came back.

LE said they were not in each other's sight range the whole day, but we don't know how long they were together, how long they were apart, and if they went back to the homestead together or separately.

Searches with various modalities were to a 15 km radius of where Gus was reported to be seen last.

We weren't told specifically where Shannon was before 4:30 ish, per the narrative. It's a very incomplete time line for every person's day.

I can't imagine the police do not have more specific timeline claims than that. I also imagine they have some evidence supporting or debunking some claims, such as phone communication, state of house, etc. But they have not shared them, and have called timeline claims into question publicly, without specifics. But I also think there is far less opportunity to confirm timelines in this remote area as compared to more suburban or urban areas.

I wonder if it is true that Jess did not call Josh. I don't know the nature of their relationship at the time, but it seems like no matter how much they didn't get along, he'd be called around the same time police are called. I also wonder why LE did not call Josh. I think the first snap theory on the scene would be dad took him, but of course it is debunked that Josh took him. I wonder if LE went to Josh instead of calling on the phone for an investigative reason, if indeed that is what happened. And I wonder if it's true Josh was asleep. I wonder if a detective nearer to Josh surreptitiously checked on Josh earlier than the alleged wakening. Police were called about Gus' disappearance earlier than a typical adult bed time.


MOO

 

[seasideForest]

LE said they were not in each other's sight range the whole day, but we don't know how long they were together, how long they were apart, and if they went back to the homestead together or separately.

But I also think there is far less opportunity to confirm timelines in this remote area as compared to more suburban or urban areas.

Rsbmff
On the first para, thank you for the reminder that Jess and Josie weren't in each other's sight range. Idk if I ever absorbed that or have just forgotten, but that does open up a few possibilities.

On the second para, I agree, good point.

 

[FromGermany1]

LE said they were not in each other's sight range the whole day, but we don't know how long they were together, how long they were apart, and if they went back to the homestead together or separately.

So they then used 2 vehicles for their driving "10km away" or did they use only 1 vehicle? Do we know?

 

[Ruminations]

So they then used 2 vehicles for their driving "10km away" or did they use only 1 vehicle? Do we know?

I believe we do not know.

We do know that one motorcycle and one other "vehicle" (personally, I'd call a motorcycle a vehicle) were taken from the property for forensic testing.

If this were a suburban case with neighbors, somebody would have told the press which vehicles were missing and who usually drove them.

I think part of why we feel like we have so little information is not only because of LE keeping things close, it is because we don't have the additional contributions of journalists talking to neighbors.

MOO

 

[_sleuthdog_]

And I wonder if it's true Josh was asleep. I wonder if a detective nearer to Josh surreptitiously checked on Josh earlier than the alleged wakening. Police were called about Gus' disappearance earlier than a typical adult bed time.

We also don’t know if JL is a shift worker or has some other routine reason that would have him in bed early.

 

[Ruminations]

We also don’t know if JL is a shift worker or has some other routine reason that would have him in bed early.

Has it been reported what time LE woke him with the information that Gus was missing?