NT Police have confirmed the devastating news the body of a missing five-year-old Alice Springs girl has been found, and she is believed to have been murdered.
Police said the little girl was found 5km from the Old Timers Town Camp just before noon today.
Her family have requested she now be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby.
Police are still searching for family acquaintance 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who is believed to have led the girl from the family’s home.
The distressing news was announced by NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole, together with Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley, who is leading the criminal investigation.
“We’re here to provide a tragic update on the current status of this investigation,” Commissioner Dole said at a packed news conference in the Alice Springs Police Station shortly after 1.45pm today, 30 April.
“Just before midday today, police members of the search party located the body of a young Aboriginal girl we believe to be (Kumanjayi Little Baby).
“The body was found about 5km south of the crime scene at Old Timers Camp.
“This is an incredibly distressing development,” Commissioner Dole said.
He said the missing girl’s family had been formally notified.
“Our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.”
He added police were not in a position to release details around the circumstances or anything else regarding the young girl’s death, and that a postmortem examination would be conducted “most likely tomorrow” (1 May).
“That will be a critical step in establishing those facts,” Commissioner Dole said.
“The criminal investigation is ongoing, and a coronial process will now also begin.”
Commissioner Dole said that process would limit what police were able to say publicly.
“This is devastating news not only for (Kumanjayi Little Baby’s) family, but also the first responders, the Alice Springs community and all of those around Australia who have been worrying for (Kumanjayi Little Baby).”
Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said DNA had been found on child’s underwear seized from the initial crime scene.
He told reporters yesterday (29 April) the underwear was among items taken from the scene on 26 April, including a doona, doona cover, and the shirt worn by family acquaintance Jefferson Lewis – who police are still searching for.
“Of significance is the pair of child’s underwear. We located two DNA profiles on the underwear,” Assistant Commissioner Malley said.
“One, as expected, belongs to the little girl, and the other belongs to Jefferson Lewis.”
“The focus, right now, is to locate Jefferson Lewis.
“That is our sole job in this investigation, right now,” he said.
“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis, that we believe he has 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.”
Mr Lewis was released from prison six days prior to the girl’s abduction and has a history of assault and domestic violence charges.
Commissioner Dole said yesterday the lack of a digital footprint was making the hunt for Mr Lewis harder.
“It is very unusual that we have absolutely no contact, no trace and no location of Mr Lewis, so we absolutely firmly believe that there’s members of the community that know where he is, where he went and how to contact him…”
Assistant Commissioner Malley yesterday likened the investigation to those conducted in the 1930s and said officers had resorted to old-style policing.
“This man doesn’t have a telephone, he doesn’t have a bank account, he doesn’t have a car – so some of the usual practices that we do in 2026 aren’t applicable, hence the amount of resources we have on the ground.”
Commissioner Dole praised the Alice Springs community for its efforts during the search, despite its tragic conclusion.
“The support shown during this time has been overwhelming,” Commissioner Dole said.
“This is the worst possible outcome.”
Commissioner Dole pleaded with the Alice Springs community support one another.
“It is equally important that the police be allowed to continue to do their job.”
The news came as volunteers joined police and rescue teams for the fifth day since the girl’s disappearance.
Police officers, personnel from emergency services agencies including the State Emergency Services (SES), volunteer firefighters and Norforce members, were joined by dozens of volunteers in the search for the five-year-old, who was last seen in her bedroom around 11.30pm on ANZAC Day, 25 April.
