Almost a year after four-year-old Gus vanished from his family’s remote South Australian property, his parents say they believe someone knows what happened to their son

The parents of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont have made an emotional appeal for information as South Australian authorities offer a reward of up to $1 million for information that could finally explain what happened to him.

Gus disappeared from Oak Park Station in the South Australian outback on September 27, 2025, and no trace of him has been found.

His parents, Joshua Lamont and Jessica Murray, have urged anyone who may know something about their son’s disappearance to come forward, no matter how insignificant the information might seem.

In a video message released on Wednesday, Murray described Gus as a “beautiful, sweet, and unique little boy” who loved music, listening to stories and playing outdoors.

The past year has been “the most devastating and inexplicable event we have ever experienced”, she said.

“During the time Gus has been missing, he should have celebrated his fifth birthday and his little brother’s first birthday with us.”

Lamont, visibly emotional, said the family desperately needed answers.

“We believe that someone knows something. Someone knows what happened to Gus, and may even know where he is,” he said.

$1 million reward announced

South Australia Police confirmed on Wednesday that a reward of up to $1 million would be offered for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Gus’s disappearance and/or the recovery of his remains.

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, who is overseeing the investigation, said the reward was a significant step and urged anyone with information to contact police.

“$1 million is a life changing amount of money for anyone who can assist in this investigation,” he said.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the disappearance had deeply affected the state and that the government was doing everything possible to support the police investigation.

“I cannot imagine the anguish that Gus’s parents Jess and Josh are going through,” he said.

The reward is available for information leading to a conviction or the recovery of Gus’s remains, rather than simply information about his whereabouts.

Gus disappeared from the family property

Gus was last seen at around 5pm on Saturday, September 27, 2025, playing outside near the family homestead.

About 30 minutes later, his family went outside to check on him and discovered that he was gone.

The four-year-old was described as shy but adventurous and had never previously wandered away from the family property.

Oak Park Station covers around 60,000 hectares and lies about 300km inland from Adelaide. The disappearance triggered one of the largest and most intensive missing-person searches ever undertaken by South Australia Police.

Police, emergency services, Australian Defence Force personnel, volunteers and Aboriginal trackers took part, alongside specialist resources including dogs, drones, aircraft and divers.

Eleven searches have failed to find Gus

Task Force Horizon has conducted 11 separate ground searches since Gus disappeared.

Police have searched difficult and remote terrain as well as waterways, creeks, wells and bores on the property. A major search conducted in May examined more than 30km of waterways and creeks, but no new evidence was discovered.

Investigators have also carried out extensive aerial searches.

Detective Superintendent Fielke said Task Force Horizon had reviewed more than 700 square kilometres and conducted a detailed examination of aerial imagery.

That review identified several “anomalies” which police are now assessing. Investigators will determine whether those findings justify another physical search of the area.

Despite the scale of the operation, police have found no trace of Gus.

Investigation became a major crime case

In February 2026, South Australia Police formally declared Gus’s disappearance a major crime.

At the time, Detective Superintendent Fielke said investigators believed it was unlikely that Gus had simply wandered away from the homestead or had been abducted by an unknown person.

Police said their investigation had instead focused on the possibility that someone known to Gus was involved in his disappearance and suspected death.

Investigators have stressed that neither of Gus’s parents is a suspect.

Police have continued to investigate the case while reassessing evidence and information as it emerges.

“We’re going to continue to thoroughly and meticulously investigate the disappearance of Gus until we get a resolution,” Fielke said.

For Josh Lamont and Jessica Murray, the appeal is ultimately a plea to anyone who may hold even one missing piece of information.

Nearly a year after Gus disappeared, they are still waiting for answers about their little boy — and hoping that someone will finally come forward.