NT Police probe whether man suspected of abducting little girl had help
Police are investigating whether they helped the suspect who kidnapped five-year-old Alice Springs girl Sharon Granites as the search enters its third day.
Sharon was last seen around 11.30pm on Saturday after her parents tucked her into bed, and police suspect recently released Jefferson Lewis, 47, was behind her disappearance.
“He was last seen holding hands with the little girl at around 11am that night,” Northern Territory Police Deputy Crime and Intelligence Commissioner Peter Malley said. He added: “We believe Jefferson Lewis took the little girl to the scene of that crime.”
Malley said Tuesday that Lewis did not have access to a car, “but that doesn’t mean someone wasn’t driving him around” and said the suspect may have had an accomplice.
If Lewis kidnapped Sharon, police have not determined why, Malley said.
Lewis has a lengthy criminal history, including assault and domestic violence offences, and police believe he was under the influence of alcohol on the night of Sharon’s alleged abduction.
Detectives believe Sharon is alive, but there have been no confirmed sightings of either her or Lewis since they disappeared from Marshall Court, Old Timers Aboriginal town camp, about five kilometers south of Alice Springs city center, late on Anzac Day.
Dozens of police officers and volunteers – including Indigenous scouts, an Australian Army Reserve regiment, drones, helicopters, motorcycles, a dog unit and a mounted unit – are searching the outback for the pair. On Tuesday, the search area, consisting mainly of rugged, sandy terrain and tall grass, was expanded to 20 square kilometers.
“As time goes on, our chances of finding it alive are decreasing, so the amount of resources we have in Alice Springs is decreasing,” Malley said.
When NT Police first reported Sharon’s disappearance publicly on Sunday morning, they said she may have been wandering around and Lewis’ involvement was not made public until 9am on Monday.
Early in the investigation, police believed Lewis might have been involved, Malley told reporters Tuesday.
“We issued an internal circular for his arrest at nine o’clock on Sunday night. So I’m not sure what happened before.”
NT Police chief cultural reform officer Leanne Liddle said Sharon’s mother was devastated.
“This is every parent’s worst nightmare and we have continued to provide this ongoing support to my mother and the wider family.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that Sharon’s continued absence “breaks the hearts of everyone who hears this story”.
“Every parent’s biggest fear is that your child will get lost,” he said.
Angus Delaney is a reporter for The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31.Connect via email.
