Australia Australia - Sharon, 5, missing from Aboriginal camp, Alice Springs, 25 April 2026

[Monkey2]

NT police have mounting concerns for missing five-year-old girl Sharon in Alice Springs​

Northern Territory police say they have "mounting concerns" for a missing five-year-old girl in Alice Springs and are pleading with the public for any information that may help find her.

The girl, referred to as Sharon, was reported missing about 1:30am on Sunday when she could not be found at her home on Marshall Court at the Old Timers Aboriginal town camp.

'Mounting concerns' for missing five-year-old girl in Alice Springs, police say

Northern Territory police believe five-year-old Sharon may have walked out the front door of her home in the middle of the night.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Orbweaver]

What a beautiful little baby. I’m so glad they are using dogs and helicopters early on. I hope to see good news for her and her family soon.

 

[Witch Doctor]

Here's a 2009 article that talks about the isolation of the Alice Springs aboriginal Town Camps and how much it was needed for them to be provided access to modern services.

Australia faces challenges in aboriginal 'town camps'

Aboriginal elders George Robertson (L), Toby Gara (C) and Brenda Maxwell (R) playing cards near their house in Hopy's town camp at Alice Springs. (Anoek De Groot/AFP/Getty Images) By Shar Adams The Epoch Times SYDNEY — The Australian Government is endeavouring to improve housing and conditions...

www.anishinaabe.ca

And here's the Alice Springs Town Camps' organization council's current web site full of information. This specific link is to their timeline of development - very impressive progress in health and human services.

Our Culture and History | Tangentyere Council

The Town Camp movement was catalysed by the displacement of people from their traditional lands and steadily built momentum from early 1974 with the incorporation of the first Town Camp Housing Associations.

www.tangentyere.org.au

I'm sure that aboriginals, like native american communities, struggle with being targets because they have more limited access to services like this so it's great that this missing child is getting the same attention as other Australian missing children. The tribe knew who to contact and the people they contacted are taking action. That's not how it would have been just a decade or two ago. Hope she's found safe!

 

[iamshadow21]

Now treating her disappearance as a possible abduction:

Missing 5yo Alice Springs girl believed to be abducted, police say

Northern Territory Police say they believe a missing five-year-old girl in Alice Springs was abducted from her home at a town camp early on Sunday morning.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

Happy to see a post here for Sharon

NT Police Force - Alice Springs and Southern

NT Police Force - Alice Springs and Southern. 30,198 likes · 13,239 talking about this. NTPFES maintain this site for information purposes only. For police assistance call 131 444, or 000

www.facebook.com

NT Police Force - Alice Springs and Southern​

oopSetdnsr6f288g2cch15luug715iumauf60fmfmh834h486ga99c1hla0t ·

The Northern Territory Police Force is seeking public assistance in the search for missing 5-year-old Sharon in Alice Springs.
Around 1:35am on Sunday morning, police received reports that Sharon could not be located at her residence on Marshall Court, Old Timers Camp, Alice Springs. It is believed she was last seen around 11:30pm on Saturday evening.
Police have conducted an initial search of the area utilising extensive resources and have been unable to locate Sharon.
She was last seen wearing a dark blue short-sleeve T-shirt with a white ring stripe around the neck and a white ring stripe around the end of the sleeves, and a pair of black boxer style underwear.

Police are seeking public assistance to locate 47-year-old male, Mr Jefferson Lewis, who police believe can assist with enquires.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr Lewis or Sharon, or who has any information at all, is urged to call police on 000. Please quote reference P26120934.

I fear this is not going to end well

 

[drsleuth]

 

[PromotedPawn]

This doesn't look good at all. I really hope she is found alive and unharmed but it is unlikely considering the circumstances. MOO

 

[drsleuth]

 

[HoneyBunOne]

<modsnip: Removed quoted post from another thread>

Happy to see a post here for Sharon

NT Police Force - Alice Springs and Southern

NT Police Force - Alice Springs and Southern. 30,198 likes · 13,239 talking about this. NTPFES maintain this site for information purposes only. For police assistance call 131 444, or 000

www.facebook.com

NT Police Force - Alice Springs and Southern​

oopSetdnsr6f288g2cch15luug715iumauf60fmfmh834h486ga99c1hla0t ·

The Northern Territory Police Force is seeking public assistance in the search for missing 5-year-old Sharon in Alice Springs.
Around 1:35am on Sunday morning, police received reports that Sharon could not be located at her residence on Marshall Court, Old Timers Camp, Alice Springs. It is believed she was last seen around 11:30pm on Saturday evening.
Police have conducted an initial search of the area utilising extensive resources and have been unable to locate Sharon.
She was last seen wearing a dark blue short-sleeve T-shirt with a white ring stripe around the neck and a white ring stripe around the end of the sleeves, and a pair of black boxer style underwear.

Police are seeking public assistance to locate 47-year-old male, Mr Jefferson Lewis, who police believe can assist with enquires.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr Lewis or Sharon, or who has any information at all, is urged to call police on 000. Please quote reference P26120934.

View attachment 662388
View attachment 662389

I fear this is not going to end well

That is a frightening photo. I hope this turns out to be something like a custody case and he only wants the best for the poor little girl. Do we know more about her family situation and how the suspect was deemed to be a suspect? Does he have any ties to the family? I hope Sharon is found safe and well ASAP.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Her home is so close to the Sturt Highway, Todd River and the rail line. This doesn't bode well if she did just wander off.

 

[IminSyd]

That is a frightening photo. I hope this turns out to be something like a custody case and he only wants the best for the poor little girl. Do we know more about her family situation and how the suspect was deemed to be a suspect? Does he have any ties to the family? I hope Sharon is found safe and well ASAP.

From the ABC article he isn’t close family but was staying at the house Sharon went missing from. Very concerning. But it is early in the investigation and we know very little. Still hope she will be found I think, hopefully unharmed.

Acting Commander Grieve said Mr Lewis had not been in prison for child-related offending and was not believed to be closely related to Sharon or her family.

Missing 5yo girl believed to have been abducted near Alice Springs, police say

 

[IminSyd]

More information about suspected abductor, Jefferson Lewis, he has significant history of violent crime.

And in this article they say he was staying at the same camp, previous article stated same house, so not sure which is correct. Seems like there are maybe 9 households at the camp, I’m not sure of the living arrangements of a household. Tangentyere Council, Alice Springs



Really hoping she is ok

. Criminal history of man police are searching for over missing 5yo girl revealed

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Now treating her disappearance as a possible abduction:

Missing 5yo Alice Springs girl believed to be abducted, police say

Northern Territory Police say they believe a missing five-year-old girl in Alice Springs was abducted from her home at a town camp early on Sunday morning.

www.abc.net.au

From the linked article:

Her full name is Sharon Granites
She was last seen Saturday night, 25 April 2026

 

[IminSyd]

From the linked article:

Her full name is Sharon Granites
She was last seen Saturday night, 25 April 2026


View attachment 662413

And sounds like Sharon’s mum noticed she was missing in the very early hours of Sunday morning. Heart goes out to them, hope they get their little girl back soon.

 

[Clearsky]

https://people.com/girl-5-missing-after-mom-found-her-bed-empty-in-the-middle-of-the-night-11958993

At around 1:35 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 26, the Northern Territory Police (NT Police Force) received reports that a 5-year-old girl, known as Sharon, had disappeared from her home in Alice Springs, according to an NT Police news release.

 

[MsMarple]

https://people.com/girl-5-missing-after-mom-found-her-bed-empty-in-the-middle-of-the-night-11958993

At around 1:35 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 26, the Northern Territory Police (NT Police Force) received reports that a 5-year-old girl, known as Sharon, had disappeared from her home in Alice Springs, according to an NT Police news release.

View attachment 662429

From your link:

Authorities believe Jefferson Lewis — a 47-year-old recently released prisoner with a history of domestic violence convictions, per Australian news outlets the Sydney Morning Herald and 7 News — may be able to help with their enquiries.
…
Police believe Sharon may have wandered out of the family home as they observed the doors and fly screen open during their investigation.

“What concerned initial reporting members is that the [Old Timers Camp] is adjacent to the Todd River … where it's quite easy for a child to wander away and not be easily locatable," Ordelman told ABC News.
…
"We do believe Sharon has been abducted and we believe Mr Jefferson may be able to provide us with some information in regards to this," said Grieve, per 9 News.

"He currently remains one of the few people who were in Old Timers Camp at the time and has not made themselves known to police, nor have police been able to locate him at this point in time,” Grieve added.
——-
So police believe Sharon could have wandered off with concern that there is water nearby. Or Sharon was abducted and a potential person of interest may be involved.

 

[shiningonsmiles]

The town camps are basically public housing clusters. They are notoriously under funded and overcrowded. Most Aboriginal children are taught to stick to their parents from birth. There's a lot of traditional stories and mythology about not wandering off, especially at night. Also a lot of the families move between town and community (homelands usually in very isolated desert), and the risk of walking off is life and death. Socially you are always surrounded so it was be extremely unlikely for a child to wake up and wander off IMO

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.news.com.au/national/northern-territory/exinmate-wanted-over-suspected-abduction-of-sharon-5-as-search-enters-third-day/news-story/118ed27debb8fb3591e0a3d23b2c9cf1

Ex-inmate wanted over suspected abduction of Sharon, 5, as search enters third day​

The desperate search for the little girl continues, with police seeking an ex-inmate they suspect may have abducted her from the Alice Springs home.

The search for the little girl has entered its third day, with police scouring the Alice Springs town with assistance of emergency services, and volunteers from the Tangentyere Council and Purple House.

About 46 square kilometres has so far been searched by helicopter, while officers and volunteers have scoured about 20 square kilometres on foot

---

On Monday, NT Police said they were seeking assistance from Jefferson Lewis, 47, who they said was living in the house at the time and may assist with inquiries.

Mr Lewis was recently released from prison for violent offences, including assault and domestic violence.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

The town camps are basically public housing clusters. They are notoriously under funded and overcrowded. Most Aboriginal children are taught to stick to their parents from birth. There's a lot of traditional stories and mythology about not wandering off, especially at night. Also a lot of the families move between town and community (homelands usually in very isolated desert), and the risk of walking off is life and death. Socially you are always surrounded so it was be extremely unlikely for a child to wake up and wander off IMO

Thanks for the insight. It made me wonder about the instances of kids on the spectrum in Aboriginal or remote communities. We often hear of kids on the spectrum wandering off despite the best intentions of their carers. Healthcare can be an area that's lacking in communities like these and it just made me think it's a possibility that Sharon may have been undiagnosed. Of course, given the news of the suspect who is also missing, wandering off doesn't look to be likely. Anyway, just my thoughts that came to mind with what you said shiningonsmiles.

 

[drsleuth]

Live: Police believe missing 5yo girl still alive, finding her ‘number one priority’

Helicopters, heat sensor drones and dozens of people combing through thick scrubland have joined the increasingly desperate search for Sharon Granites.

www.abc.net.au

Live updates

The NT Police Force's executive director of cultural reform, Leanne Liddle, says Aboriginal trackers have been called on to help in the investigation.

"We also have the assistance of the volunteers, we've also got the assistance of the land councils."

Acting Commissioner Malley has rejected any suggestion police did not start searching for Sharon early enough.

"The team has done everything within its power," he said.

"It was up and running very, very early, resources here as part of the search are really significant.

"TRG [the Territory Response Group], motorbikes, horses, helicopters, drones, so it's a significant investigation and search."

Acting Commissioner Malley says NT Police do believe Sharon Granites is still alive.

"That's why at this stage our number one mission is to find her safe and well," he said.

"But as you know, as time goes on, the chances of finding her alive and well, reduce, so hence the amount of resources we have present here in Alice Springs."

NT Police say on the night Sharon went missing, her mother had gone with her to Old Timers town camp to do some washing.

"Sharon's mum was over there to do some washing, and she knew people there so she was quite welcome in that area," Acting Commissioner Malley said.

Acting Commissioner Malley added that "we believe Jefferson Lewis has led the little girl away".

He says at this stage, investigators do not have a motive for Sharon's abduction but that Mr Lewis was probably "under the influence of alcohol".

Jefferson Lewis seen 'holding hands' with Sharon​

Acting Commissioner Malley says Jefferson Lewis was last seen at around 11 o'clock on the Saturday night.

He says he was "seen with the little girl, holding hands".