Kumanjayi Little Baby’s alleged abductor, killer arrested by NT Police (edited)
Warning: This story contains the name and images of a deceased Indigenous person.
A fugitive suspected of kidnapping and murdering a five-year-old Alice Springs girl has been arrested by police after five days on the run.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, was the subject of one of the Northern Territory Police’s biggest manhunts after the body of Little Kumanjayi Baby* was found on the banks of the Todd River on Thursday.
The little girl disappeared from Old Timers Aboriginal Village Camp on Saturday night; Authorities claimed Lewis, who was also staying at the camp, took her from her parents’ home while she was sleeping.
After searching for the couple for five days, the boy’s body was found by police near the Todd River, about five kilometers south of the camp. His cause of death has not yet been determined.
Lewis remained at large, but on Thursday night police released a statement confirming his arrest.
“Recently, the Northern Territory Police Force located and arrested Jefferson Lewis at a residence in Alice Springs,” the statement said.
“More information will be available early in the morning.”
Earlier on Thursday, NT Police Deputy Commissioner Peter Malley warned others to help Lewis.
“We’re telling Jefferson Lewis’ family that we believe he killed this child. Don’t help him, take him to the police station and we’ll take care of him,” he said.
“So I say to Jefferson Lewis: We’re coming for you.”
The girl’s family released a statement Thursday afternoon, saying she was missed and loved and that it would be difficult to live without her.
“I know that you, along with the rest of your family, are in heaven with Jesus, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” the statement said.
“Me and your brother will meet you one day, we give our lives to Jesus.
“It will be very difficult to live the rest of our lives without him [you].
“Ramsiah [the girl’s brother] He wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven he will give you the biggest hug ever.”
Rose Spencer, Kumanjayi Little Baby’s great-aunt, said she remembered Lewis coming to the community about a week ago after members of another camp called Yuendumu told him he was not welcome there.
“We trusted him as a family. [our family]but not anymore. “We don’t trust people,” he said.
Dole said police believe Lewis was helped to evade detection.
The search for him was further hampered by the fact that he had no mobile phone, bank account or vehicle, forcing police to resort to “1930s-style” shoe-leather policing practices.
NT Premier Lia Finocchiaro said she had spoken to the little girl’s mother, who was incredibly distraught.
“Nearly 200 people worked tirelessly day and night to search for this beautiful little girl who went missing five days ago, for five days every Territor had their heart in their throat waiting for the moment we received the announcement that she had been found safe and sound,” he said.
“This news did not come and it is fair to say that everyone feels this loss acutely.”
*For cultural reasons, the name of the five-year-old victim will no longer be published, at the request of the family.
