A former police investigator has reignited hope — and fear — in the ongoing mystery of missing schoolboy Gus Lamont, claiming that key evidence in the case “was never properly searched” and that the truth may still lie somewhere on the family’s rural property.

It’s been over three agonizing weeks since 12-year-old Gus vanished without a trace. The boy, described by friends as kind, funny, and “always curious about the outdoors,” was last seen near his family’s farm, just before dusk. Despite exhaustive search operations involving drones, dogs, and hundreds of volunteers, not a single confirmed trace of him has been found.

Now, an ex-police detective — who once worked major missing-persons cases — says investigators may need to “go back to the beginning.” Speaking after reviewing reports of the early search, the retired officer suggested that “a crucial window in the first 48 hours may have been lost,” and that vital clues could still be on the land where Gus lived.

“When a child disappears so close to home, it’s almost always the immediate area that holds the first answers,” the former officer said. “If I were still on the job, I’d take the team back there — a full week prior to when he was reported missing — and look again with fresh eyes. The property may still be holding the truth.”

The suggestion has sparked renewed debate online, with some locals supporting the idea of a new search and others insisting police have already done everything possible. Authorities have not confirmed any plans to return to the site, but the detective’s remarks have added urgency to a case that’s been agonizingly short on leads.

For Gus’s family, every passing day brings more pain — and more unanswered questions. They continue to plead for information, sharing new photos and memories of the boy in hopes of keeping public attention alive.

Meanwhile, community members have been holding candlelight vigils and prayer gatherings, determined not to let hope fade. “We just want him home,” one neighbour said through tears. “If there’s even a small chance something was missed, they have to look again.”

As the investigation enters its fourth week, pressure is mounting on authorities to reassess earlier findings — and to consider that the answer to one of the country’s most haunting disappearances could still be hidden in plain sight.