source : the age
Warning: This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous person.
The body of missing Alice Springs girl Sharon Granites has been found five kilometres south of the camp where she was last seen.
Sharon vanished from her family’s home in Old Timers Aboriginal Town Camp on Saturday night, with police believing she was abducted by Jefferson Lewis, 47, who was staying in the area after having just been released from prison.
NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole provided the tragic update on Thursday.
“Just before midday today, police members of the search party located the body of a young Aboriginal girl we believe to be five-year-old Sharon Granites,” he said.
“This is an incredibly distressing development. Sharon’s family have been formally notified, and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.
“We are not in a position today to provide answers around the cause of Sharon’s death or how long she may have been deceased.
“A post-mortem examination will now be conducted.”
Sharon’s body was found during a land search by police officers after expanding the original search area.
Lewis is yet to be located.
NT Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said the discovery was “the worst possible outcome”.
“The focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis, that is our sole job in this investigation right now,” he said.
“We say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he’s murdered this child. Do not assist him, get him to the police station, and we’ll look after him.
“And I say to Jefferson Lewis: we’re coming for you.”
It comes after DNA testing confirmed a pair of child’s underwear found on Sunday at a river bed near the camp had two DNA profiles recovered from it, being Lewis’ and Sharon’s.
More to come.
