Police identify suspect 'known to' missing 4-year-old boy

Authorities believe someone acquainted with a 4-year-old boy who disappeared last September could potentially be linked to his disappearance.

On Thursday (February 5), the South Australia Police (SAPOL) released a news update, disclosing that the case of August “Gus” Lamont — who went missing from his residence at Oak Park Station in the Australian outback on September 27, 2025 — has officially been labeled as a significant crime.

Reports from PEOPLE previously showed that Gus went missing while playing on the sandy grounds of his family's sheep farm, which lies about 25 miles from the South Australian town of Yunta.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Major Crime Investigation Branch head Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke revealed that one person from the outback property is now considered a suspect, reiterating that Gus' parents are not suspects.

Fielke shared that police executed a search warrant at the scene in January, collecting "a variety of items," including "an automobile, a motorbike, and electronic devices."

The detective mentioned that family members were "collaborating" with authorities, "providing details," to help police determine "Gus' movements around the time of his disappearance."

He indicated that investigators uncovered "several inconsistencies and contradictions" during the ongoing probe.

"An individual residing at Oak Park Station ceased supporting the police and is no longer assisting us," Fielke announced at the press meeting.

He pointed out, "The person who halted their cooperation is now considered a suspect in Gus' disappearance," and added, "I must emphasise that Gus' parents are not suspects in this matter."

According to the police news release, the "search area" for Gus encompassed three reservoirs and six mining shafts.

"Alongside ground searches, extensive air surveillance covered large areas around Oak Park Station," the announcement noted.