Three-year-old boy who went missing in Hermannsburg on New Year’s Eve died from dog attack, police believe

Police believe a three-year-old boy who went missing in remote Central Australia late on New Year’s Eve was viciously mauled to death in an animal attack.

UPDATE MON 7PM: A THREE-YEAR-OLD boy who went missing in remote Central Australia late on New Year’s Eve was viciously mauled to death in an animal attack, police believe.

Two large dogs have been seized for further forensic examination as officers continue to piece together the final moments of the young boy’s life.

A search and rescue operation was launched in the remote Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg (Ntaria) about 11pm on Friday after the boy’s family reported him missing.

The three-year-old was found alive the following morning and was taken to the local health clinic but tragically died shortly after.

Police said the boy had some developmental delays and speculated he may have wandered off late Friday night before being attacked some time later.

On Sunday, NT Police declared a major investigation into the death, which has rocked the small community, located 125km southwest of Alice Springs.

Hermannsburg, also known as Ntaria, is about 125km southwest of Alice Springs.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma on Monday said injuries observed were consistent with a dog attack.

“Pathology investigations has determined at this stage that there is an attack that is consistent with an animal attack,” Mr Sharma said.

However, he said it was too early to conclude with certainty the cause of death, which will ultimately be determined by the coroner.

“It’s not conclusive … investigations will continue,” Mr Sharma said.

“But this at this stage investigations and evidence are pointing towards that direction.”

Mr Sharma described the animals in custody as ‘camp dogs’, a colloquial name for mixed-breed dogs that often roam freely in motley groups in Aboriginal communities.

Charges are not currently being considered for the dogs’ owners but Mr Sharma would not rule out charges being laid in the future.

He said the owners were cooperating.

Foul play has not yet been ruled out of the investigation and officers are still searching for people who might have seen the attack occur.

“This is a quite significant revelation within our investigation, but we won’t be ruling out until we have evidence or an investigation is conclusive that there is no foul play,” he said.

“Investigations are still determining if we have eyewitnesses.

“At this stage, I can’t say that we have that information.”

Officers are still trying to establish precisely when the attack might have occurred and what time the boy went missing.

NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma said two dogs had been seized.

“All those aspects will form part of our investigation and (the report) will be prepared for the coroner,” Mr Sharma said.

Extra Crime Command officers and detectives were sent to the community to conduct doorknocks and interview witnesses on Sunday.

Resilience and engagement officers were also deployed to offer residents support.

Mr Sharma said the community of Hermannsburg, which has a population of about 600 people, were grieving the loss of the small boy.

“You can imagine how the family and the community are feeling, including investigating officers,” he said.

“Anyone who was touched upon by this incident is feeling that grief.

“We will keep a very close eye inside the community, and if community members should need further assistance we will be helping them.”

Mr Sharma pleaded for parents to keep an eye on their young children.

“Their sense of awareness is not as acute as you would see from an adult,” he said.

“It’s very similar to a swimming pool, for example. Within a very short time bad things can occur to the kids.

“Keep an eye on kids. Don’t assume that they’re all right. Make sure parents have that supervision.”

UPDATE SUN 6PM: POLICE have not ruled out foul play after a young boy passed away in the early hours of New Year’s Day in Central Australia.

A major investigation has been declared after a boy under five went missing for 10 hours in the remote community of Hermannsburg, also known as Ntaria

Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma said “nothing is being dismissed” as investigators piece together the boy’s final moments.

Mr Sharma said the boy’s family reported him missing on Friday evening, after searching for the young child for several hours.

Mr Sharma would not confirm if the family reported his disappearance as a potential abduction.

“I think it’s safe to say that they were concerned as such they alerted police for the search mission,” he said.

Police joined the major community search and rescue operation on Friday evening as soon as it was reported.

Mr Sharma said an officer found the child in the early hours of the new year in the community, but the little boy did not make it to the local health clinic.

Mr Sharma confirmed there were “obvious” injuries on the child, but did not disclose the nature of the wounds.

Mr Sharma said crime scenes had been established in the community, and a pathology investigation was continuing.

He said due to the “tender age of the child” police were not dismissing foul play as a reason for his disappearance with results likely in the following days.

Mr Sharma said extra Crime Command officers and detectives were sent to the community, 126km west of Alice Springs, to conduct doorknocks and interview witnesses on Sunday.

He said mental health services were also being provided to Hermannsburg as they grappled with the grief of the young boys passing.

“As you can imagine, anyone their situation would be distraught,” he said.

“That is a horrible, horrible situation to be in.

“I never thought I would be standing in front of you in the New Year delivering this sort of news to you.”

While he acknowledged the strong community interest in the boy’s passing, Mr Sharma was cautious to reveal further details to protect the investigation and the grieving family.

He called on anyone with information, no matter how trivial, to contact police.

“We never know that little piece of information may solve the puzzle for us,” he said.

UPDATE SUN 11.30AM: POLICE are going door to door in a remote community looking for answers after a young boy passed away on New Year’s Day.

Northern Territory Police have increased their numbers as a response to the tragedy in the Central Australian community, southwest of Alice Springs.

The boy, who was under 10-years-old, was reported missing from his home late Friday night.

His family reported his absence to police after they had already searched for several hours.

A search operation involving his family, the community and police stretched into the early hours of Saturday morning.

The child was found alive, but later passed away on Saturday.

A NT Police spokeswoman said Community Resilience and Engagement Command members and Alice Springs Crime Command officers had been sent in and were working with the community.

She said police were doing door knocks as the investigation continued.

Detective Acting Superintendent Michael Schumacher said family and community members were assisting in the investigation.

“We appreciate the public’s concern in this tragedy however we are still in the very early stages of investigations and will issue further updates as required,” Supt Schumacher said.

“We reiterate our request to respect the family’s privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

EARLIER SAT 1.30PM: A SMALL boy who was reported missing from their home in a remote NT community has tragically died in the early hours of Saturday morning some time after being found alive.

Northern Territory police launched a search and rescue operation late Friday night after receiving reports of a missing boy from his family in a remote community, located southwest of Alice Springs.

Acting Commander Kirsten Engels said the child was found alive, but died some time later.

“Tragically the child was found in the community early this morning and has subsequently passed away,” she said.

“Police are investigating and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

“We request that the family’s privacy is respected at this time and offer our sincere condolences for their loss.”

Originally published as Three-year-old boy who went missing in Hermannsburg on New Year’s Eve died from dog attack, police believe