Horrific new theory about the fate of missing little Sharon feared abducted by a the violent ex-con – as veteran detective reveals why the case is a modern day nightmare

Police fear missing little Sharon Granites may have been abandoned by the violent ex-con who kidnapped her into the evil clutches of another group of people.

Convicted criminal Jefferson Lewis, 47, was seen taking 5-year-old Sharon by the hand and leading her into the darkness as she was tucked into bed by her mother during a social gathering at Old Timers city camp, south of Alice Springs, on Anzac Day.

Lewis had been released from prison just six days ago.

On Wednesday, detectives found children’s underwear, a doona and a yellow blouse that Lewis had worn at a nearby crime scene at the camp earlier that day.

Forensic results were expected on Thursday to reveal whether Sharon’s underwear showed signs that she had been sexually abused.

No further trace of the couple has since been found, sparking a police theory that Lewis was supported by some sections of society and may have handed the child over to others while he was on the run.

But no one has since handed the child over to police or family, triggering greater fears for his safety and welfare.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole also revealed that Sharon was “non-verbal” and communicated with her hands, limiting her ability to call for help.

Jefferson Lewis remains at large and is suspected of kidnapping little Sharon

Hopes of survival diminish as search efforts extend into fifth day

Commr Dole said he could not “communicate his needs” to Lewis if she was still with her and could not alert search parties if he had run away.

On the night of her disappearance, Lewis was seen taking Sharon away around 11pm, just after her mother had put her to bed, and police were called around 1.30am.

They had attended the area earlier that evening on an unrelated call; Lewis — wearing his distinctive yellow shirt — was captured on body camera footage.

Police swung into action immediately, but despite hundreds of people searching on foot within a 5km radius of Old Timers, the search has so far yielded few clues to the whereabouts of Lewis or Sharon.

What makes it even more difficult for police is the lack of technology used by the alleged kidnapper.

Lewis does not have a vehicle, a phone or even a bank card, making the modern investigative techniques used by the police virtually useless.

Retired detective Charlie Bezzina, who spent 38 years with Victoria Police, including 17 years as a murder investigator, says finding Sharon (hopefully alive) will be a result of old-fashioned policing.

He said the desperate search would rely on Aboriginal tracers and police on horseback and motorcycles.

Police confiscated the distinctive yellow shirt Lewis wore on Saturday

More than 100 volunteers comb tall weeds near Old Timers camp

Police Commissioner Martin Dole and Deputy Commissioner Peter Malley address the media

Mr Bezzina said eyewitness accounts would be heavily relied upon and he hoped anyone Lewis could turn to for help would report him.

On Tuesday, police said they believed Lewis and Sharon were still within a 20km radius of the town camp and it appeared he did not have access to a vehicle.

But as Sharon’s capture enters its fifth day, Mr Bezzina said they may have to widen the search radius.

‘They’ll be looking at (Lewis’) partners, if any. I know it didn’t take him long to get out of prison, so they were looking at visitor records to see who visited him in prison,” Mr. Bezzina said.

‘At the end of the day, if you’ve done that parameter of the 20km search, you need to draw a line in the sand and then work with the assumption that he may have escaped in a vehicle.’

Speaking about the possibility of Lewis getting help on Tuesday, Commr Dole pleaded: ‘Tell us.’ Tell us what you know.’

He explained that they ‘absolutely and absolutely believe that there are members of the community who know (Lewis’s) whereabouts’.

Ex-detective Charlie Bezzina says police will use ‘old method’ in investigation

Sharon’s distraught grandmother Karen White begs to get her grandchild back

Police ‘shared intelligence’ with police in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland but insist Lewis remains in the Alice Springs area.

“We still believe it is local, but we will evaluate everything,” Deputy Commissioner Malley said.

The Australian Defense Force, Aboriginal trackers and about 70 volunteers joined the search, covering difficult terrain with soft sand and tall grass.

Mounted police, drones and search dogs also participated in the hunt.

In October 2024, Lewis was sentenced to a total of 18 months in prison with a non-parole period of 12 months.

Lewis, who was unconditionally released from prison despite a long list of criminal convictions, is understood to have been staying at the Old Timers’ home and was known to Sharon’s family.

Police said Sharon and her mother went to the address that night to do some laundry and her mother was ‘distraught’ over her daughter’s disappearance.

Lewis was sentenced to four months in prison in March 2025 after pleading guilty to breaching a domestic violence order and resisting police.

Mrs White was in hospital when she learned of Sharon’s disappearance

As of Wednesday, police believed Sharon could be located safely; but Deputy Commissioner Malley admitted: ‘We are on the verge of him still being alive.’

Alice Springs woman Karen White, who describes herself as Jacinta’s aunt and Sharon’s grandmother, shared photos of the adorable little girl with the Daily Mail on Wednesday.

Karen said she was in the hospital when she learned Sharon was missing.

‘I am a very sick woman. ‘I don’t feel well and I just want my grandson back,’ Karen said.

‘He’s only five years old. ‘He likes to play on the phone and with all the kids.’