Police Return to Oak Park Station in Renewed Search for Missing Gus Lamont, Suspect Identified

Renewed Search Underway at Oak Park Station

South Australian police have returned to the remote Oak Park Station homestead, approximately 40-45 kilometres south of Yunta, to conduct a renewed search for evidence in the disappearance of four-year-old Gus Lamont. The search, which commenced on Monday, February 16, 2026, is expected to last two days, with officers from Task Force Horizon focusing on the property where Gus was last seen.

Gus, whose full name is August, was reported missing on September 27, 2025, after he was last seen playing outside his family's home.

Major Crime Declaration and Identified Suspect

The renewed search follows the declaration of Gus Lamont's disappearance as a major crime by South Australia Police on February 5, 2026.

Authorities have identified a suspect in the case, described as a person who lived at the Oak Park Station property at the time of Gus's disappearance. Police stated that this individual withdrew cooperation from the investigation after 'a number of inconsistencies and discrepancies' were found in the information they provided. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke previously indicated that police no longer believe Gus is alive. It has been stressed that Gus's parents are not considered suspects in the investigation.

Investigation History and Unrelated Arrest

Gus was last seen by his grandmother around 5 PM on September 27, 2025, playing on a mound of dirt. When she went to call him inside half an hour later, he was gone. Initial searches, which began after family members contacted police approximately three hours later, were extensive. These efforts involved hundreds of police, emergency services, Australian Defence Force personnel, drones, divers, and trackers, covering a vast area of up to 706 square kilometres. Investigations included draining a dam and inspecting six mine shafts on the property, but no trace of Gus or his belongings was found.

Police have ruled out the possibilities of Gus wandering off or being abducted, with the focus now on the involvement of someone known to him.

In an unrelated development during the current search, a 75-year-old individual was arrested on February 16, 2026, and charged with firearm offences. Police confirmed these charges are not connected to Gus Lamont's disappearance.