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

[JLZ]

I was looking back through a few news articles, I found this slightly weird.

'He was unable to confirm if either of Gus's parents, Jess or Josh, were living at the family's station.' (ABC News)

I thought we knew Jess and grandparents lived at the station. Or did I imagine this?

If Josh was woken up in his home (again may just be me imagining I read somewhere it was his home), he would not be living at the station, right?

BBM, that's our understanding about September 2025. Commissioner Stevens is saying he won't comment on who is where in early March 2026.

Agreed, the home where Josh was awakened was not part of (or near) the station.

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

DBM

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

I was looking back through a few news articles, I found this slightly weird.

'He was unable to confirm if either of Gus's parents, Jess or Josh, were living at the family's station.' (ABC News)

I thought we knew Jess and grandparents lived at the station. Or did I imagine this?

If Josh was woken up in his home (again may just be me imagining I read somewhere it was his home), he would not be living at the station, right?

The silence around this whole case is weird!
We don’t know where Jess or Josh lived for sure . It’s been reported they lived in Adelaide, and also that Josh was renovating a house in a small town a couple of hours from Oak Park Station for them to move into.

I’ve never seen it disclosed how long Jess and the boys had been staying at Oak Park .
It’s rumoured that Josh didn’t get along with Josie. Apparently JL was at his house when Gus disappeared and not at Oak Park.

 

[katydid23]

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.

True.

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.

Yes, we don't know any of that. I hope LE does.

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.

Very incomplete timeline.

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.

Yes, it's hard to imagine how LE would be able to confirm or deny most of their timeline.

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.

If it's true she didn't call him, it seems really weird. Unless she worried he was involved somehow? IDK

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.

I think they didn't call him because the grandmother's may have said they thought Josh might have taken him?

LE wouldn't want to give him a head's up ---they'd want to rush over and check things out first, imo.

MOO

 

[katydid23]

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

I think they would have used two. IMO

Only saying that based upon my grandparent's farm and Uncle's ranch. In both places they spent a lot of time and energy checking the perimeter fence lines to protect the livestock. And when we went out with them to help mend fences, there were always a couple of people to do the work, and both had their own mode of transportation---important because more work gets done that way. If you find a break in a fence line, one stays to mend it and the other moves on ahead to check further or look for lost livestock---saves time to have 2 vehicles.

So that makes me think that if Jess stayed somewhere to fix a gate or fence line, Josie could have gone ahead OR returned to the house?

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

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

Bbm
I agree with your points but I’ve never heard LE say they were not in each others sight range the whole day or that Jess didn’t call Josh (or try to but couldn’t get hold of him).

ETA:
All we’e been told about September 27 is
•Shannon was looking after Gus when he disappeared while Jess and Josie looked for lost sheep 10km away
•He was in the sandpit then he wasn’t (can’t remember what time but close to dark).
•Three hours later the police were called

 

[Ruminations]

I think they didn't call him because the grandmother's may have said they thought Josh might have taken him?

LE wouldn't want to give him a head's up ---they'd want to rush over and check things out first, imo.

I think if police were told by any of the adults: Shannon, Josie or Jess, that they suspected Josh, LE would have been RIGHT over.

But, I also think LE would have considered that theory quickly, and even not have been convinced if all three said they didn't think Josh would have Gus when asked by LE. So, nearly as fervently, I think LE would have been RIGHT over.

But it is possible LE quietly checked on Josh soon after they were called, possibly even before they arrived to the station, without sharing that information. Josh was easier to get to.

MOO

 

[CaitLion]

A news report from a week ago…..


View attachment 657906

30K views · 134 reactions | The SA Police Commissioner has shared fresh insight into the Gus Lamont Major Crime investigation. #9News | 9 News Adelaide

The SA Police Commissioner has shared fresh insight into the Gus Lamont Major Crime investigation. #9News

www.facebook.com

Now I stated MOO previously but with this news we've been given a trickle more information that likely backs up my theory so Ill say it again.

The commissioner confirms here that their prime suspect is someone that is known to Gus and is a family member that lived at Oak Park station with him. Now we already know that neither of the parents had any involvement, and there has been no mention of some extra random family member that happened to live there, plus I'm gonna take a punt and say its highly unlikely his baby brother is a suspect. All of this narrows it down to only 2 people then – Gus' 2 Grandmothers.

Given only one of the grandmothers, Shannon, gave a statement (through their lawyer) a couple weeks ago, when asked how they feel 6months on, and yet Josie had no comment which seems very unusual (unless I guess maybe anything they say is something that then could be used against them later?) AND Josie was supposedly the looking after Gus when he went missing... IMO everything points to her being the lead suspect the commissioner is refering to.

It seems very unlikely to me that if the LE are suggesting theres only one suspect, that it would be Shannon, who was out on the farm that day. Even if her exact movements cant be proved, I think of any situation where Shannon would go back to the homestead and do something to Gus while Josie is supposedly looking after him?
Again, thats just MOO, based off all that we do know from what LE have shared about the case

 

[Hexe]

It seems very unlikely to me that if the LE are suggesting theres only one suspect, that it would be Shannon, who was out on the farm that day. Even if her exact movements cant be proved, I think of any situation where Shannon would go back to the homestead and do something to Gus while Josie is supposedly looking after him?

You have it wrong. Shannon was looking after Gus and his little brother in the homestead, while Josie and Jess were out on the farm.

 

[Warshawski]

AND Josie was supposedly the looking after Gus when he went missing... IMO everything points to her being the lead suspect the commissioner is refering to.

It seems very unlikely to me that if the LE are suggesting theres only one suspect, that it would be Shannon, who was out on the farm that day.

Sorry CaitLion, however re the BBM above - you have the grandparent names mixed up.

It was Shannon who was home looking after Gus

It was Josie who was reported to be out in the paddock .

 

[Warshawski]

You have it wrong. Shannon was looking after Gus and his little brother in the homestead, while Josie and Jess were out on the farm.

Haha Snap

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Right, that makes sense. I wish I'd heard Jess make a statement, about seeing her little guy at lunchtime, and he was having a great time eating his sandwich and playing with his baby brother.

It's sad that we know nothing about anything that happened that day, besides Gus allegedly playing alone in the dirt pile until 5:30 or so.

That could all be a made up story. He could have been missing longer for example.

 

[LifeIsAMystery]

Sorry CaitLion, however re the BBM above - you have the grandparent names mixed up.

It was Shannon who was home looking after Gus

It was Josie who was reported to be out in the paddock .

We don’t know that any of that is true. Initially reports were Josie was home minding kids(and maybe watching the game).

 

[Ruminations]

Now I stated MOO previously but with this news we've been given a trickle more information that likely backs up my theory so Ill say it again.

The commissioner confirms here that their prime suspect is someone that is known to Gus and is a family member that lived at Oak Park station with him. Now we already know that neither of the parents had any involvement, and there has been no mention of some extra random family member that happened to live there, plus I'm gonna take a punt and say its highly unlikely his baby brother is a suspect. All of this narrows it down to only 2 people then – Gus' 2 Grandmothers.

Given only one of the grandmothers, Shannon, gave a statement (through their lawyer) a couple weeks ago, when asked how they feel 6months on, and yet Josie had no comment which seems very unusual (unless I guess maybe anything they say is something that then could be used against them later?) AND Josie was supposedly the looking after Gus when he went missing... IMO everything points to her being the lead suspect the commissioner is refering to.

It seems very unlikely to me that if the LE are suggesting theres only one suspect, that it would be Shannon, who was out on the farm that day. Even if her exact movements cant be proved, I think of any situation where Shannon would go back to the homestead and do something to Gus while Josie is supposedly looking after him?
Again, thats just MOO, based off all that we do know from what LE have shared about the case

I agree with your assessment that LE all but said that one of the two grandmothers is a prime suspect. (Of what? They haven't said. They have said they think that Gus is more likely deceased, possible by intention or possibly by accident. But they haven't even not said what they have a prime suspect of. Of murder? Of hiding a body? Of giving a false report?)

But I don't think there is a marked difference in the cooperation of the grandparents. When one says through their lawyer that they are fully cooperating, it suggests they are doing exactly what LE is complaining of, communicating only through their lawyer. Just because Shannon's lawyer said it first does not mean she is the more cooperative grandparent, IMO. In substance, I see no difference in the grandparents' cooperation.

I'm inclined to think that the announcement of the identitified suspect was primarily an attempt by LE to create a family rift. It does not appear to have worked. Indeed, the few official statements made by family members were explicitly about unity and mutual support.


MOO

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

Right, that makes sense. I wish I'd heard Jess make a statement, about seeing her little guy at lunchtime, and he was having a great time eating his sandwich and playing with his baby brother.

It's sad that we know nothing about anything that happened that day, besides Gus allegedly playing alone in the dirt pile until 5:30 or so.

Me too, I wish I’d heard something .
It’s so sad nobody related to Gus has uttered one word.

 

[Hexe]

We don’t know that any of that is true. Initially reports were Josie was home minding kids(and maybe watching the game).

No. All the reports stated it was Sharon (also described as a grandmother) that stayed with children, while Josie (also described as a grandparent) was out on the pastures. If you know any stating otherwise I will be grateful for a link.

MOO

 

[gerardo20]

It’s so sad nobody related to Gus has uttered one word.

jmo
Sad, but not surprising given a grandparent is known to angrily insist someone shutup while brandishing a gun.
jmo

 

[Puzzles]

All we know for certain is that a little guy with an ethereal appearance is missing.

That's it.

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

The grandparents need to be separated and brought in for questioning with lots of pressure applied.

 

[AmoryK]

The grandparents need to be separated and brought in for questioning with lots of pressure applied.

Absolutely they do! Assuming one or both knows something, I find it disgraceful they haven’t come forward to ease the pain of their own daughter. They need forceful separate questioning and time alone with the parents verbally ripping into them IMO. The gently gently approach doesn’t seem to have worked (I’m thinking of Jess and Josh’s carefully worded statement recently appealing for information).