A five-year-old girl at the centre of a desperate search has been found dead, as police continue to hunt for a man known to her.
The body of Sharon Granites, referred to by her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby, was discovered near Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, after days of frantic searching, prompting an outpouring of grief and renewed urgency from investigators.
Emergency services had launched a major operation after the young girl was reported missing from a remote community, sparking fears for her safety in harsh outback conditions.
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Need To Know reports that authorities confirmed the grim discovery over the weekend, with specialist officers now treating the case as a homicide.
Police are urgently seeking to locate 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who they believe can assist with their inquiries. He is known to the child and was identified early in the investigation as a person of interest.
Detectives say the pair were last seen together before Kumanjayi, disappeared, with concerns escalating when she failed to return home.
Search crews, including local volunteers and specialist units, had been combing vast stretches of land around Alice Springs, Australia, battling extreme conditions in a race against time.
The discovery has devastated the tight-knit community, with support services being offered to family members and those involved in the search.
Authorities have not released full details of how or where Kumanjayi’s body was found, but confirmed the investigation has now shifted focus.
Police have issued a public appeal for information on Lewis’s whereabouts, warning he may be travelling through remote areas.
Anyone who has seen him or has information is being urged to come forward immediately.
The case has sent shockwaves across the Northern Territory, with many questioning how such a tragedy could unfold.
Investigations remain ongoing.
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