Police in central Australia announced Thursday that a body has been found that they believe belongs to 5-year-old Kumanjai Little Baby. Photo courtesy Northern Territory Police Force/Release
Authorities searching for a missing 5-year-old girl in central Australia believe they have found her body, the Northern Territory Police Force said Thursday, as they continue to hunt for the 47-year-old man police say is responsible for her abduction and murder.
The body of an Aboriginal girl was found by police officers shortly before midday around 3 miles south of Old Timers Camp, an Aboriginal town camp located in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, the Northern Territory Police Force said in a statement.
The child, Sharon Granites, whom the family has now requested be referred to as Kumanjai Little Baby, was reported missing from her Old Timers Camp home at about 1:35 a.m. local time Sunday, a few hours after she was last seen.
Police believe she was abducted and killed by Jefferson Lewis, who had been in and around the girl’s residence on Saturday.
“This is an incredibly distressing development,” Northern Territory Police Force Commissioner Martin Dole said to reporters during a brief press conference on Thursday afternoon.
On Wednesday, police said a crime scene had been established a short distance from the camp where officers seized a yellow adult T-shirt, a quilted comforter and a pair of children’s underwear.
Northern Territory Police Force Acting Commander Mark Grieve said Thursday that two DNA profiles were found on the underwear, one expected to belong to Kumanjai Little Baby and the other belonging to Lewis.
“The focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis. That is the sole job in this investigation right now,” Grieve said.
“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’ll look after him. And also to Jefferson Lewis: We’re coming for you.”
Lewis was recently released from prison and has a criminal history that includes physical assault and domestic violence but no offenses related to child endangerment, authorities have said.
The senior police officers were unable to provide the cause of death or how long the child had been deceased. A formal autopsy was expected to be conducted on Friday.
“I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family with Jesus and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Me and your brother will meet you one day,” Kumanjai Little Baby’s mother said in a statement provided by the Northern Territory Police Force.
“It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you. Ramsiah wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven, he is going to give you the biggest hug ever.”
Ramsiah is Kumanjai Little Baby’s brother.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said in a separate press conference that they are now focused on “a grieving family, a grieving town and a grieving Northern Territory.”
“As a mother, as a member of our community, dark days like this rock everyone,” she said. “And the heartbreak of this is real.”
