Police tell suspect ‘we’re coming for you’ after body of girl, 5, found | World | News

The search for a missing five-year-old has ended in tragedy, with police confirming a body has been found that they believe to be that of the missing girl.

The girl, who the family has asked be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby in the wake of her death, went missing late on Saturday night (April 25) from a home on the outskirts of Alice Springs, in the outback.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples often avoid naming the deceased as a mark of respect and a cultural protocol, believing it disturbs the person’s spirit and prevents them from moving on to the afterlife.

What followed was a five-day massive land and air search of the Australian outback in the town of Alice springs, located nearly a five-hour drive away from Australia’s iconic rock formation, Uluru, at the centre of the country.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole gave the tragic update at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, calling the shock find “an incredibly distressing development”.

“Just before midday today, police members of the search party located the body of a young Aboriginal girl we believe to be [the five-year-old]” he said.

“[Her]family have been formally notified and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.”

A manhunt remains underway for 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, a man released from jail only six days prior to the girl’s disappearance and the person police believe abducted her.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley told gathered media that NT Police’s “focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis”.

“It is our sole job in this investigation right now,” he said.

“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he’s murdered this child. Do not assist him; get him to the police station and we’ll look after him.

“And I say to Jefferson Lewis, we’re coming for you.”

The devastating update comes after five days of searching by police and volunteers in the Northern Territory near the home at Old Timers Camp where the five-year-old was last seen.

NT Police assistant commissioner Peter Malley said earlier in the week there was a “bit of a party” happening in the camp at the time of the girl’s disappearance. She was at home in bed while her mother was doing washing nearby.

It seems that was when her alleged abductor struck, with an eyewitness revealing to police they spotted something stomach-churning at the time the five-year-old vanished.

As per police, Lewis was last seen “holding hands” with the little girl at about 11pm on Saturday, with police confirming they believe he then led her away from her home. This was the last time the little girl would be seen alive.

An NT Police spokesman told News Corp’s NewsWire service earlier this week that 60 or so people were taking part in the ground search on Tuesday, as well as using helicopters, drones, the dog unit, horses, motorcycle and ATVs as resources to help find the child in any terrain.

Police, emergency crews, and volunteers have so far searched about 46 square kilometres – that’s just more than 17 square miles – so far by helicopter, while officers and volunteers have scoured a further 20 square kilometres (7.7 square miles) on foot.

Indigenous trackers have also been deployed to assist with the search, NT Police executive director of cultural reform Leanne Liddle told news.com.au. “We also have the assistance of the volunteers, we’ve also got the assistance of the land councils,” she said.