The desperate days-long search for a five-year-old Northern Territory girl believed to have been abducted has come to a tragic end.
The body of Sharon Granites, known to her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby, was located just before midday on Thursday about 5km from where she went missing.
Sharon was reported missing from her home on Marshall Ct in Old Timers Camp, Alice Springs, about 1.35am on Sunday.
“This is an incredibly distressing development,” NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said.
“Sharon’s family have been formally notified and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time.”
A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on Friday, as investigations continue.
Five-year-old Sharon has been found dead. Credit: NT Police
In a statement read out NT Police’s executive director of cultural reform, Leanne Liddle, the family shared a heartfelt letter.
“To Kumanjayi Little Baby,” the statement from her mum said.
“Me and Ramsiah miss and love you.
“I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family with Jesus and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“Me and your brother will meet you one day.
“We are giving our lives to Jesus.
“It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you.
“Ramsiah wants to tell you that when he sees you in heaven, he is going to give you the biggest hug ever.
“Love from Mum and Ramsiah.”
Sharon’s grandfather Robin said: “There was nothing I could do – just cry”.
“She was a really nice, little, good, quiet girl.”
Robin said he discovered his granddaughter was missing while watching the Anzac Day memorial nearby.
“I heard it was my granddaughter who was being snatched up and [had been] taken off by a man from prison,” he said.
The family also thanked the community for its efforts during the search.
Police urged Jefferson Lewis to hand himself in. Credit: NT Police
Police said Sharon was led away by 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who was seen holding her hand about 11pm that night.
A number of items were located on Sunday on the banks of the Todd River behind Old Timers Camp, including a pair of children’s underwear, a yellow shirt believed to have been worn by Lewis, and a doona cover.
Police on Thursday said two DNA profiles were identified on the underwear — Sharon’s and Lewis’s.
The focus now is on locating Lewis, police said.
“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he’s murdered this child. Do not assist him. Get him to the police station and we’ll look after him,” Dole said.
“And I say to Jefferson Lewis, we’re coming for you.”
Police believe Sharon was put to bed by her mother on Saturday night before leaving through an unlocked back door and was later led away by Lewis.
Lewis was staying at the home where Sharon disappeared and is believed to have gone missing around the same time.
Police said they believe he was “under the influence of alcohol” at the time of the alleged abduction.
Lewis is understood to have been staying at the home from where Sharon disappeared. Credit: NT Police
Lewis had been released from prison six days before Sharon’s disappearance after serving an 18-month sentence for serious violence-related offences.
From 2016 to 2025 Lewis was sentenced to 64 months in prison for offences including multiple aggravated assaults, breaching domestic violence orders, resisting police and breaching bail.
He does not have a phone, bank account or car, limiting police’s ability to track him through a digital footprint.
Police on Wednesday said they believe he is still in the local area and may be receiving assistance from others.
“We absolutely firmly believe that there’s 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,” NT Police acting Commissioner Peter Malley said.
He described Sharon as a “very affectionate little girl” who is “loved by her family”.
Sharon’s family had reported the child was non-verbal and often communicated with her hands.
Sharon’s grandfather, Robin Japanangka Granites, earlier told The Sydney Morning Herald he had been praying for his “really nice, little, good, quiet” granddaughter to return.
He also delivered a direct message to Lewis.
“I want you to listen to me,” he said.
“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 her back safe.”
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the community now faces “dark days” that “rock everyone”.
“The heartbreak of this is real,” she said on Thursday.
“I’ve also spoken to our colleague, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is the auntie of Kumanji Little Baby. And so over the days and weeks, we stick together as Territorians, as we always do.
“We are focused on a grieving family, a grieving town and a grieving NT.
“As police have said, we now turn our focus to finding the person responsible and bringing them to justice for Sharon.”
Anyone who has any information about the whereabouts of Jefferson Lewis has been urged to contact police.
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