Police to search six abandoned mineshafts for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont
In a bombshell development, police will renew their search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont today – this time focusing on six mineshafts.
Six abandoned mineshafts are the focus of the fourth search for missing four-year-old Gus Lamont beginning on Tuesday, two months after he first went missing.
SA Police including STAR Group and Task Force Horizon officers will search six mineshafts located between 5.5km and 12km from the Oak Park homestead.
Police said the areas had not been searched on foot and that police were not previously aware of the location of the mineshafts.
Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said the new searches were part of ongoing investigations as part of Task Force Horizon.
“We are determined to explore every avenue in an effort to locate Gus Lamont and provide some closure for his family,’’ she said.
“These searches will either locate evidence or eliminate these locations from further investigation by the task force.’’
Police said the current phase of the investigation will ensure all locations of possible interest in a wide radius of the homestead are scrutinised.
Ground searching at Oak Park Station has extended to 5.5km from the homestead, equating to 95 square kilometres searched on foot.
The original search area covered by mounted and aerial units covers 470sqkm.
Police said they had conducted multiple lines of inquiry to locate Gus and that these investigations have not uncovered any evidence of foul play.
The family continue to co-operate with police and are being supported by a victim contact officer.
Gus was last seen outside on September 27 at the family’s remote property south of Yunta.
Major Crime and the Water Operations Unit spent three and half hours draining around 3.2m litres of water from the dam, at a rate of approximately 15,000 litres per minute.
That search was overshadowed by a confrontation between Gus’s grandmother Josie Murray and a reporter from the Daily Mail, in which Ms Murray brandished a shotgun as she yelled at the reporter to leave the property.
Following the incident Ms Williams warned the public to stay off the property.
“If this persists, then action will be taken, you will either be reported or arrested, this is completely disgraceful conduct,” she said at the time.
The initial search in September involved SA Police, defence force personnel, SES volunteers, trackers and local property owners.
August “Gus” Lamont disappeared from his grandparent’s remote property 40km south of Yunta on the afternoon of September 27.
He was last seen playing outside the family homestead, with his disappearance sparking a mammoth ten-day search that captured the attention of the nation.
No trace of Gus has been found since his disappearance and little hope remains that the boy will be found alive.
