The search for five-year-old Sharon Granite, who went missing in Alice Springs, intensifies as police uncover significant evidence. Authorities have found a pair of children’s underwear believed to belong to Sharon and a distinctive yellow and black shirt associated with her suspected abductor, Jefferson Lewis.
Sharon was reportedly put to bed before 11pm at her mother’s residence on Marshall Court. She was last seen at around 11:30pm holding hands with Lewis, who is believed to have led her away from the campsite where they were staying. Just six days prior to Sharon’s disappearance, Lewis was released from jail after serving time for violent crimes, including assault and domestic violence.
The clothing items were discovered on the riverbank behind the Old Timers Camp, the last known location of Sharon, but this information was only revealed recently by police. Northern Territory Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Malley has confirmed that the shirt found matches the one Lewis was observed wearing in police bodycam footage taken when officers visited the camp for an unrelated reason earlier that evening. Additionally, a doona cover was located alongside the clothing.
Approximately 100 local volunteers have joined the ongoing search, now in its fourth day. Despite these efforts, there have been no verified sightings or additional clues regarding Sharon or Lewis since Sunday. Malley emphasised the difficulty of the situation, noting that Lewis lacks a telephone, bank account, or vehicle, complicating the search. He likened the current investigative method to “1930s policing,” as they are relying on traditional methods like door-to-door inquiries in the absence of a digital footprint.
The community remains hopeful as the search continues, while police urge anyone with information to come forward.