UPDATED: NT Police have identified a 47-year-old man they say may have information about the disappearance of a five-year-old girl who went missing from Old Timers Camp in Alice Springs on Saturday around 11:30 pm, with police deploying helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and drones in hopes of locating the missing girl.
Police said the girl, Sharon, was reported missing at 1:30 am on Sunday morning. She was wearing a dark blue short-sleeve T-shirt with a white ring stripe and black boxer-style underwear at the time of her disappearance.
On Monday, police said they were also searching for Jefferson Lews, 47, who disappeared from the camp around the same time as the girl.
“We do believe Sharon has been abducted and we believe Mr Jefferson may be able to provide us with some information,” Acting Commander Mark Grieve said.
“He currently remains one of the few people who were in Old Timers camp at the time and who has not made themselves known to police, nor have police been able to locate him at this point.”
Jefferson Lewis (Pic: NT Police)
Lewis is known to police for domestic and family violence offences and was recently released from prison, but was not under any supervision orders.
Search mission coordinator Senior Constable Ben Evans said that approximately 30 individuals were involved in the search operation for five-year-old Sharon, including police personnel, drones, and foot search teams. Resources such as helicopters, horses, and all-terrain vehicles were also deployed.
“Overnight, we were lucky enough to have assistance of a drone and foot searches and…today we’re expanding that search with the use of helicopters,” Senior Constable Evans said.
“We’ve got some horses out there, some more ground assets as well — bikes and all-terrain vehicles.”
He said that more members of the police’s search and rescue section would be deployed in the area.
“Obviously, she’s a young girl, so the main priority at this stage is trying to find her as quickly as possible,” Cst Evans said.
He added that police are maintaining ongoing communication with the family, and a family liaison officer has been assigned to ensure dialogue continues as the search progresses.
“I’m urging anyone out there that might have dash cam or CCTV footage from their residence to contact police on 131 444 and quote the reference number P26120934 with any information that could assist us with the search,” Cst Evans said.
Police said Lewis is not related to Sharon, but was known to the family and was “in and around the house at some stage”.
I’m sorry, little girl. In the name of equity that man had to be given a light sentence for his previous multiple violent crimes in order to fight racism.
If you survive, you may one day appreciate how non-racist the courts are.
You’re welcome.
Signed… every bleeding heart lefty
…
This is what being soft on violent crime leads to. He should have been locked away for ever. At least then that little girl would have been safe.