In a shocking turn of events, police in South Australia arrested 75-year-old Josie Murray, the grandmother of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont, after discovering a prohibited firearm accessory at the family’s remote Oak Park sheep station.
The station sits roughly 40 kilometers south of Yunta, deep in rural South Australia, where the young boy vanished last September.
Murray was taken briefly to the local police station and formally charged with possession of a sound moderator—a type of silencer considered an aggravated firearm offence in Australia.
She was later released and is scheduled to appear before Peterborough Magistrates Court on May 6.
Context of the Arrest
The arrest came during a two-day police operation at the Lamont family station, one of several searches conducted on the property since Gus disappeared on September 27, 2025.
According to authorities, Gus was last seen around 5pm playing on a mound of dirt near the family homestead.
Detective Inspector Andrew Macrae, acting officer in charge of the Major Crime Investigation Branch, emphasized that Murray’s charge is unrelated to Gus’ disappearance.
He also clarified it had no connection to a previously reported incident involving a journalist at the property last October.
Investigation Updates on Gus’ Disappearance
Police recently revealed that someone known to Gus is now considered a suspect in his disappearance and suspected death.
Despite this, both of Gus’ parents, Jessica Murray and Joshua Lamont, are not under suspicion.
So far, no arrests or charges have been made in relation to the child’s disappearance.
Legal Representation and Family Reaction
Both of Gus’ grandparents, Shannon and Josie Murray, have secured high-profile Adelaide defence lawyers.
They expressed devastation at the police announcement but stressed they remain cooperative with the investigation.
Police have not suggested that either grandparent is a suspect.
It’s not unusual for individuals involved in criminal investigations, even as witnesses, to seek legal advice to protect their rights.
Scale of the Search Effort
The search for Gus has been among the largest in South Australian Police history, involving multiple days of property searches, aerial surveys, and extensive coordination with investigative teams.
Despite these efforts, no trace of the boy has been found, and the case remains one of the state’s most baffling missing person investigations.
What’s Next?
Police investigations continue, focusing on the person now identified as a suspect in Gus’ disappearance.
Further searches may be conducted, and authorities are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Josie Murray’s court appearance in May will address the firearm offence, separate from the ongoing investigation into Gus’ vanishing.
Meanwhile, the community remains on edge as detectives piece together the circumstances surrounding the child’s last known movements and seek answers to one of South Australia’s most perplexing cases.
Summary
Josie Murray, the 75-year-old grandmother of missing South Australian boy Gus Lamont, has been charged with possessing a prohibited gun silencer at the family’s remote Oak Park station.
Police stressed the charge is unrelated to Gus’ disappearance, which occurred on September 27, 2025.
Investigators have identified a person known to Gus as a suspect, but no arrests have been made.
Both of Gus’ grandparents have engaged top legal counsel, and the search for the child has been among the largest in the state’s history.
The case continues to unfold as police pursue leads and await the outcome of Murray’s court appearance.
