Source : Perth Now news
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this contains images and names of a deceased person.
Thebody of Sharon Granites has been found, five days after she was allegedly abducted from her Alice Springs home.
Police on Thursday confirmed the discovery of the five-year-old, who disappeared from her home in Old Timers Camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs on April 25.
“Just before midday today police members of the search party located the body of a young Aboriginal we believe to be five-year-old Sharon Granites,” NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said in a short press conference just two hours later.
“The body was found about 5km south of the crime scene at Old Timers Camp.
“This is an incredibly distressing development.
“Sharon’s family have been notified and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.”
He said police could not yet say how she died or how long she had been dead.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley, who is leading the investigation, said the focus now was to find Jefferson Lewis who they allege abducted her.
He said child’s underwear found on Wednesday had been analysed and two DNA profiles were located on the underwear.
“What is expected, one belongs to the little girl, Sharon and the other belongs to Jefferson Lewis,” Mr Malley said.
“So the focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis. It is our sole job in this investigation right now.
“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he has murdered this child, do not assist him, get him to the police station and we will look after him.
“I say to Jefferson Lewis that we are coming for you.”
Previously, NT Police had alleged 47-year-old Lewis – who they said was at the house at the time of Sharon’s disappearance – may have taken the five-year-old.
Police said Mr Lewis was seen walking out of the house “with the little girl, holding hands” about 11pm on April, 25.
She was reported missing two hours later in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Malley said there was a social gathering taking place at the house at Old Timers Camp, where Mr Lewis was staying at the time.
“We believe Jefferson Lewis has led the little girl away,” he said.
Mr Malley said Mr Lewis – who they believe may have been “under the influence of alcohol” at the time of the alleged abduction – had been released from prison only six days earlier.
Her disappearance sparked one of the largest searches in the Northern Territory, with more than 100 volunteers on the ground alongside police, helicopters, ATVs, horses and the dog squad.
Aboriginal trackers have also assisted in the search, which stretched in the 20sq km radius of the Old Timers Camp, scouring through shoulder-high barrel grass and tough terrain.
Mr Malley said the search for Sharon was “one of the biggest investigations we’ve had going for a while”.
“This is a declared major crime and as such I have got access to all the resources of the Northern Territory Police,” he said.
More to come
