THE DISAPPEARANCE OF a four-year-old boy in South Australia has been declared a major crime by Australian police.

Major search operations have been underway since Gus Lamont went missing from Oak Park Station in the outback over four months ago on 27 September 2025.

Police are now investigating the theory that someone known to Gus was involved in his disappearance and suspected death.

The search for Gus involved 163 police members, 230 non-police resources, The Australian Defence Force, an Indigenous tracker and community volunteers.

A radius of 5.47km from the Oak Park Station homestead was searched, including three dams and six mine shafts.

Declaring the investigation a major crime today, Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said police have found no evidence that Gus “wandered off”.

“Despite our efforts we have not yet been able to locate Gus,” he said.

Oak Park Station. South Australian Police South Australian Police

Fielke said that while the search for Gus was ongoing, two other investigations were also being conducted.

One of those investigations focused on Gus Lamont being abducted from Oak Park Station by an unknown person. The other was that someone known to him was involved in his disappearance and suspected death.

As no evidence was found to suggest Gus was abducted, the task force is now focusing the investigation on persons known to Gus.

Fielke said as a result of recent investigations on 14 and 15 January 2026 detectives executed a search warrant at Oak Park Station.

A comprehensive forensic search of the homestead was conducted and detectives seized a number of items, including a vehicle, a motorcycle and electronic devices for forensic examination.

“I anticipate there will be further searches at Oak Park Station and at several sites on an adjacent national park to locate Gus as new information and intelligence comes to hand as the investigation continues,’’ Fielke said.

“The disappearance of any child is tragic and distressing not just for Gus’ parents, but also the entire community sharing their grief.

“We are all focussed and determined to locate Gus and return him to his parents.”