GUS LAMONT DISAPPEARANCE: $1 MILLION REWARD ANNOUNCED AS NEW ‘ANOMALIES’ EMERGE IN SEARCH FOR MISSING BOY

Almost one year after four-year-old Gus Lamont vanished from his family’s remote South Australian property, police have announced a reward of up to $1 million as investigators examine new anomalies found in aerial imagery.

Gus disappeared from Oak Park Station near Yunta, about 300 kilometres northeast of Adelaide, on September 27, 2025.

He was last seen playing outside his family’s home at around 5 p.m.

About 30 minutes later, his family went outside to call him in — but Gus was nowhere to be found.

Despite one of the largest and most intensive missing-person searches ever conducted by South Australia Police, there has been no confirmed trace of the little boy.

$1 MILLION REWARD FOR INFORMATION

On September 23, South Australia Police announced a reward of up to A$1 million for information that leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Gus’s disappearance and/or the recovery of his remains.

Police said the disappearance was declared a major crime in February 2026.

Since Gus vanished, investigators have conducted 11 separate ground searches over 30 days, while aerial operations have covered large sections of the remote property using police aircraft, drones and specialist camera equipment.

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, who is leading the investigation, urged anyone who knows something to come forward.

He described the reward as potentially life-changing for someone who holds information that could help investigators establish what happened to Gus.

NEW ANOMALIES FOUND IN AERIAL IMAGES

The latest development came after detectives carried out a detailed manual review of aerial imagery collected during previous searches.

According to police, investigators identified several “anomalies” in the images.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed exactly what the anomalies show.

Police are now assessing the material to determine whether it warrants another physical search of parts of the enormous property.

Detectives have previously used artificial intelligence-assisted analysis alongside conventional examination of aerial imagery.

The newly identified anomalies do not mean that Gus has been located, and police have not said that they represent human remains or evidence of a crime scene.

They are being assessed as part of the continuing investigation.

POLICE SAY GUS LIKELY DID NOT SIMPLY WANDER AWAY

The investigation has changed significantly since the initial search began.

Police initially considered the possibility that Gus may have wandered away from the family property.

However, after extensive searches and investigations, officers said they had found no evidence supporting the theory that he simply became lost.

Police have also said they found no evidence supporting an abduction by an unknown person.

Instead, investigators are focusing on the possibility that someone known to Gus was involved in his disappearance and suspected death.

A person living at Oak Park Station was identified by police as a suspect earlier this year.

Police have repeatedly stressed that Gus’s parents are not suspects.

The identity of the suspect has not been publicly released.

HIS PARENTS MAKE AN EMOTIONAL PLEA

As the first anniversary of Gus’s disappearance approaches, his parents, Joshua Lamont and Jessica Murray, have made a rare public appeal for information.

In an emotional video message, the couple described the disappearance as the most devastating and inexplicable event their family has ever experienced.

Jessica said Gus was a sweet and unique little boy who loved music, stories and playing outdoors.

Joshua, visibly emotional, said the family desperately wanted answers.

“We believe that someone knows something,” he said. “Someone knows what happened to Gus, and may even know where he is.”

His mother urged anyone with even a small piece of information to speak to police.

She said that people who were uncertain or afraid should still come forward because even seemingly insignificant information could prove important.

A YEAR OF SEARCHES

Oak Park Station covers approximately 60,000 hectares, making the search extremely challenging.

Police, emergency services, volunteers, specialist search teams, dogs, drones, aircraft and other resources have been deployed throughout the investigation.

Search teams have examined areas including dams and other difficult terrain across the vast property.

Yet despite the enormous effort, Gus has never been found.

South Australia Police said the investigation remains active and that officers will continue examining every credible piece of information.

POLICE RECEIVE NEW TIPS AFTER REWARD

The reward announcement has already generated a response.

South Australia Police said that, by September 24, Crime Stoppers had received 34 calls and two emails since the reward was announced.

Nine additional calls had also been received earlier in the week as media attention around the anniversary increased.

Detectives said every report was being assessed and would be investigated further where appropriate.

However, police also acknowledged that a major reward can generate false or unreliable information, meaning investigators must carefully assess each new lead.

“SOMEONE MUST KNOW SOMETHING”

For Gus’s family, nearly a year without answers has left them facing an agonising uncertainty.

His parents have continued to appeal directly to anyone who may know what happened to their son.

Police now hope the combination of the new aerial findings, renewed public attention and the A$1 million reward will produce information capable of moving the investigation forward.

For now, however, Gus remains missing.

There has been no confirmed discovery of his remains, no public explanation of exactly what happened to him and no conviction.

Investigators say they will continue searching for answers until they can establish what happened to the little boy who disappeared from his family’s remote property almost one year ago.