SA Police announce suspension of ground search for missing boy ‘Gus’, confirm investigations ongoing
South Australians have questioned police for ending the ground search for four-year-old Gus Lamont while communities nationwide leave lights on hoping he'll find his way home.
SA Police has now confirmed the ground search for missing four-year-old “Gus” Lamont has been suspended, with social media engulfed in anger over the news.
While, on Sunday, a SAPOL spokesman confirmed Major Crime’s investigation into the disappearance of Gus “remains ongoing”, multiple posts have expressed their disappointment over the decision to not continue with the hunt for the “quiet, adventurous” child.
“From the time Gus was reported missing to police, Missing Person Investigation Section, which is part of Major Crime Investigation Branch, have provided support to Yorke Mid North Region,” they said. “This is consistent with standard practice.
“The investigation will now be managed by the Missing Persons Investigation Section. This is where all long-term cases such as this are managed and investigated, and is standard practice.
Many people, on social media, have questioned why the search for alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman was still continuing while this one was not.
Some also linked it to the efforts required to find Cleo Smith when she went missing in Western Australia.
But, days after the search for Gus was scaled back, the eyes of the nation still remain on the hunt.
Peterborough mayor Ruth Whittle said she felt for the Lamont family after the ground search was called off.
“This is the largest closest community, but it doesn’t matter if you’re here or you’re in Broome, most of us are parents and we all feel for them,” she said.
On Saturday, Leave A Light on Inc posted on Facebook calling for people to leave their front door porch lights on “so Gus can find his way home”.
People from all over the country – and world – showed their support by keeping their lights on.
On Saturday, Leave A Light on Inc posted on Facebook calling for people to leave their front door porch lights on “so Gus can find his way home” between 7pm and 12am on Saturday night.
“Please join us tonight in supporting Gus’s family and friends by leaving a light on to guide Gus home,” they said.
The comments on the post were flooded by people from all around the country saying they had left a light on and pledging their support – and hope – that the young boy was found safe.
From Hobart to Far North Queensland, the messages of well wishes for Gus and his family came through.
One post even said they left their light on for Gus in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Wearing a blue Minions shirt, Gus went missing from his grandparents’ family homestead on September 27, about 5pm. He was last seen playing in sand just outside the home.
His disappearance prompted one of South Australia’s largest search operations, with authorities combing more than 47,000ha of unforgiving country, as well as deploying a number of air assets.
Despite their exhaustive efforts, police on Friday afternoon announced the heartbreaking decision to pull their resources from the remote family homestead and switch their efforts into an investigation.
