A major search is continuing in Alice Springs after a five-year-old girl, identified by police as Sharon, disappeared from her family home late on Saturday night, prompting Northern Territory authorities to treat the case as a suspected abduction.
Sharon was last seen when her family put her to bed shortly before midnight at a home in the Old Timers Aboriginal town camp. By the early hours of Sunday morning, she was missing, setting off an urgent response from police, emergency teams and community members across the area.
The case has deeply alarmed investigators because of Sharon’s age, the remote environment surrounding parts of Alice Springs, and the fact that a man police want to speak with has also not been located since around the same period.
Police Search for Man Who Was at the Camp
Northern Territory Police have said they want to speak with 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who was staying at the Old Timers camp and is believed to have been present during the critical timeframe. Police say Lewis has not come forward and officers have so far been unable to locate him.
Acting Commander Mark Grieve said Lewis remains one of the few people known to have been at the camp at the time who has not made himself available to investigators. Police believe he may have important information that could help explain what happened to Sharon.
Lewis was recently released from prison and is known to police for domestic and family violence-related offences. Authorities have also said he is not known for child-related offences, and they have not publicly stated that he has been charged over Sharon’s disappearance.
Police have described the circumstances as suspicious, particularly because Sharon and Lewis both became unaccounted for around the same broad timeframe. Investigators are now working to establish a clearer timeline of movements in and around the camp late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Sharon was last seen wearing a dark blue T-shirt with white trim around the neck and sleeves, along with black boxer-style underwear. Police had also released an image of her in a pink dress and blue backpack, but that was not the outfit she was last seen wearing.
Large Search Underway Across Difficult Terrain
More than 50 police officers, emergency service crews and volunteers have joined the search effort. Specialist resources, including tracking dogs, drones and a helicopter, have been used to scan areas around the camp, nearby bushland, desert country and locations close to the Todd River.
Authorities initially considered whether Sharon may have left the home through an unlocked door, but the investigation has since shifted toward a suspected abduction. Police have said they are still following all available lines of inquiry while prioritising the child’s safe return.
The Old Timers Aboriginal town camp is one of the areas in Alice Springs where Aboriginal families and visitors from remote communities may stay while in town. Police have been speaking with residents and others who were nearby to determine who was present and whether anyone saw or heard anything unusual.
Acting Commander Grieve described the disappearance of such a young child as a deeply distressing situation and said police want to find Sharon healthy and return her to her family as quickly as possible.
Sharon’s family is receiving support as the search continues. Police have also provided assistance to her mother, including accommodation support, while officers continue to gather information from the community.
For official public safety updates and police statements, readers can check the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services newsroom.
The search has drawn wider attention across Australia because missing-child cases in remote or semi-remote regions can become urgent very quickly. Around Alice Springs, open scrub, dry riverbeds, low visibility at night and long stretches of exposed land can make search conditions difficult.
Police are asking anyone who was in or near the Old Timers camp late Saturday night or early Sunday morning to contact authorities. Information about people walking in the area, vehicle movements, unusual noises or sightings of Lewis may help investigators build a more accurate picture of what happened.
Authorities have stressed that even small details could be important. In cases involving a missing child, the first confirmed movements after the disappearance often become critical to narrowing search areas and identifying possible witnesses.
No charges have been announced in connection with Sharon’s disappearance. Police remain focused on locating both the missing child and Lewis, while continuing ground searches and investigative work across Alice Springs.
The case remains active, and police are urging the public not to share rumours or unverified claims online. Anyone with direct information should contact Northern Territory Police immediately.
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