Five-year-old Sharon Granites has been missing since Saturday night, prompting a major search operation led by police in the Alice Springs area. Authorities have focused their investigation on a man named Jefferson Lewis, believed to be involved in her disappearance, shortly after he was released from prison.
Sharon was last seen after being put to bed when she disappeared from Old Timers Camp, where she was visiting with her mother. Witnesses saw her holding hands with Lewis shortly before 11:30 PM. She was reported missing at about 1:30 AM on Sunday. Investigators found clothing items, including children’s clothes and a shirt linked to Lewis, near a riverbank close to the camp, although they were only disclosed much later.
The search efforts have involved considerable community support, with Northern Territory Police receiving aid from local volunteers and Aboriginal trackers. However, the police have expressed concern for Sharon’s survival due to her non-verbal communication needs, which complicates the search.
Aid is being provided to Sharon’s family, who have publicly called for her safe return. Her aunt, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, has expressed worry about the situation, while Sharon’s grandfather described her as a beloved granddaughter. Authorities have confirmed that Lewis, who has a history of violence, is not subject to any monitoring conditions post-release, which heightens concerns.
The search has extended beyond Northern Territory, with police reaching out to Lewis’s family in Western Australia for assistance. His lack of any identifiable means of contact—such as a mobile phone or a bank account—makes the investigation more challenging, echoing a more traditional, resource-intensive approach to policing.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Sharon’s whereabouts or regarding Lewis’s actions to come forward, emphasising the importance of community cooperation in this distressing situation.