Grandmother of Missing Child Gus Lamont Proposes Eagle Abduction Theory, Cites Frustration with Police
Josie Murray, grandmother of Gus Lamont, expresses belief that the four-year-old was abducted and states she will search eagle nests for clues, while also voicing frustration over her treatment as a suspect.
The grandmother of missing child Gus Lamont has put forward a new theory regarding his disappearance, suggesting he may have been abducted by a wedge-tailed eagle from the remote South Australian sheep station where he was last seen. Gus, who was four years old, vanished on September 27 from the homestead near Yunta, approximately 40 kilometers south of the town. Despite extensive searches, no trace of him has been found.
In February, police stated their belief that Gus was likely killed, either accidentally or deliberately, by someone known to him who lived at Oak Park Station. This individual was known to the child but was not his mother, Jessica Murray, or his father, Joshua Lamont. The station is located 300 kilometers north of Adelaide.
As the one-year anniversary of Gus's disappearance approaches, his grandmother, Josie Murray, revealed plans to search eagle nests on the property. 'The eagle aspect should be looked at,' she told 7News. 'It's highly unlikely, but it's not impossible.' Murray also reiterated her belief that Gus was abducted, stating that 'nothing else makes sense.' She directed reporters to the area where Gus was last seen playing, a spot that now brings her to tears.
Murray also expressed frustration with the police investigation, particularly regarding her status as a suspect. "For me to know they are wasting their time, and their time would be better spent trying to find out what did happen to him, is enormously frustrating," she said. She has consistently denied any involvement in her grandson's disappearance and has appealed to the police not to consider her a suspect.
Police have searched Oak Park Station, owned and operated by Gus's grandparents, eleven times since the boy vanished. The relationship between Murray and investigators reportedly soured in January, leading to the case being classified as a major crime investigation. Murray's lawyer previously stated that his client has always maintained her innocence.
Initial searches involving the police, army, State Emergency Service, an Aboriginal tracker, and local volunteers spanned several weeks but yielded no sign of Gus. Police have not confirmed whether they still have a person of interest in the case or if any other suspects have been identified.