CONTENT WARNING: This article contains content some readers may find distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander readers should be aware this contains the name of a deceased Aboriginal girl. Pedestrian has chosen not to use her photo in this piece.
Northern Territory Police have found a body they believe belongs to missing five-year-old Alice Springs girl Kumanjayi Little Baby.
“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 Kumanjayi Little Baby,” NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said in a press conference, per ABC News.
“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 formally notified, and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.”
A post-mortem examination will be conducted tomorrow to help police determine the cause of death.
Per 9News, the Alice Springs child disappeared sometime on Saturday night. According to the publication, Kumanjayi Little Baby and her mother were visiting a home located in Old Timers Camp in Alice Springs.
She was last seen at 11.30pm, with reports claiming she was spotted holding the hand of a man named Jefferson Lewis, whom police believe was leading her away from the camp.
The child was then reported missing at about 1.30am on Sunday morning.
Throughout their search, NT Police found a series of material and items of clothing along the riverbank near Old Timers Camp on Sunday, but only revealed the information publicly on Wednesday.
The items included underwear believed to have belonged to Kumanjayi Little Baby and a shirt that was believed to have been worn by Lewis.
“We located two DNA profiles on the underwear. One is expected to belong to the little girl Sharon, and the other belongs to Jefferson Lewis,” Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said in an update on investigations.
Following the discovery of Sharon’s body, Malley said the police’s “focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis”.
“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he’s murdered this child,” Malley said, per ABC News.
“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.”
Lewis had been released from prison six days before Kumanjayi Little Baby went missing. He was incarcerated after being charged with offences including assault and domestic violence.
Dole confirmed Lewis was not on bail nor subjected to any conditions that would have required monitoring upon his release. However, police confirmed the man had a “loose connection” to Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family.
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If you’re in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online.
You can also get in touch with Headspace Yarn Safe online.
Or you can speak with your NACCHO community health service – find your local member online.
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