Trigger Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders should be aware that this article contains images and names of a deceased person.
The body of five-year-old Sharon Granties, Kumanjayi Little Baby, has been found, five days after she was allegedly abducted on Anzac Day.
On April 30, police confirmed the discovery.
“Just before midday today, police members of the search party located the body of a young Aboriginal, we believe to be five-year-old Sharon Granites,” Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said during a press conference.
“The body was found about 5km south of the crime scene at Old Timers Camp… this is an incredibly distressing development.
“Sharon’s family have been notified, and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.”
The police could not yet reveal how long she had been dead.
Five days have passed since Sharon Granites disappearence. Below is everything that has happened during that time.
Jefferson Lewis
The Northern Territory Police suspect 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis of her abduction, who was arrested on May 2. Jefferson has been charged with one count of murder and two other charges that have not been disclosed for legal reasons.
His case proceed to court on July 30 following a lengthy adjournment on May 5.
Prior to Kumanjayi Little Baby’s disappearance, he had been released from prison six days prior and was residing at the same address as the little girl.
Jefferson has been imprisoned multiple times in the past decade for offences relating to assault and domestic violence.
The ABC confirmed his most recent brush with the legal system was serving an 18-month sentence after pleading guilty in October 2024 to aggravated assault, engaging in conduct that violated a domestic violence order, and breaching bail.
In the past decade, Jefferson has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for separate offences.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that following Jefferson’s recent release from prison, he was not welcome back to the Yuendumu community. He was then directed to Lajamanu where he had family.
Instead, he went to the town camp to see extended family.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said the search for Jefferson has been challenging.
“This man doesn’t have a telephone, doesn’t have a bank account, he doesn’t have a car, so some of the usual practices we do in 2026 aren’t applicable,” he said.
Police believe some members of the community “absolutely know” where Jefferson is and have urged them to come forward. Commissioner Martin Dol noted it was “unusual” that they’ve had “no contact, no trace, and no location.”
“So we absolutely firmly believe that there are members of the community that know where he is, where he went, and how to contact him, and we implore those people to come forward and give us that information,” he said.
What Did Police Discover?
On day four, police revealed they discovered items of clothing on the riverbank at the back of Old Timers Camp, where Sharon was last seen.
Commissioner Peter Malley said they found Jefferson’s “distinctive” yellow and black shirt. Police know this is owned by Jefferson due to bodycam footage captured earlier on Saturday for an unrelated call.
Also found with the shirt was a doona cover and children’s underwear. Peter said the possibility that Sharon was allegedly sexually assaulted was “certainly on the table.”
The items have been sent away for forensic examination, with the findings yet to be released.
The Search for the Kumanjayi Little Baby
The town camp is a small community, comprising nine households and roughly 40 residents, maintained by the local Aboriginal corporation, Tangentyere Council.
The community quickly banded together in search of the missing, non-verbal five-year-old. The Kumanjayi Little Baby vanished from a home at Old Timers town camp in Alice Springs, last seen before 11 pm on Saturday, April 25, holding hands with Jefferson Lewis.
The little girl was then put to bed in the family’s lounge room. At 1:30 am, the family realised she was missing and reported it to the police.
Dozens of police were joined by almost 200 volunteers, including Indigenous trackers, Australian Army Reserve, canine unit, mounted division and more, searching the outback.
Commissioner Martin Dol said: “We’ve got specialist sections here, we’ve got assistance from interstate, we’ve had offers from interstate all over the other jurisdictions, we’ve got inquiries happening in other jurisdictions, and we’re pouring every available resource down here to assist.”
Unfortunately, the search had been considerably difficult given sections of the area are overgrown with buffel grass or covered by rocks, trees, and sand.
By Wednesday, April 29, search teams covered about five square kilometres on foot and 80 square kilometres by air and vehicle.
Her Family
Heartbroken and distraught by Kumanjayi Little Baby’s disappearance, her kinship grandfather Robin Japanangka Granites shared a plea to Jefferson.
“I want you to listen to me,” he said through the media. “I want you to send that baby back. She is our baby. It’s our kid … she is just too small. Please, can you bring her back? We want to be back safe.”
Since her disappearance, her family has been “crying, crying, and doing we meant to be doing, and being out there with our family crying… and that’s not what we want, we want to be going out and searching for her.”
Her family confirmed Sharon was unable to talk, communicating mostly through hand gestures.
Warlpiri Alica Springs community leader and a member of the five-year-olds extended family, Bess Nungarrayi Price said her mother and grandmothers were distraught. At this time, they hadn’t given up hope.
“We are hoping, the family’s hoping, that she’s still alive, and hopefully they can return her to her grandmothers, and her mother,” she said. “The whole family is just traumatised, but we still hope that we can find her and that she’s okay.”
Anyone who has any information is urged to call police on 000. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au.
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