The family of Sharon Granites are grieving the loss of the five-year-old girl, whose body was found on Thursday, five days since she was led into the dark holding the hand of violent ex-con Jefferson Lewis.

Her body was found just before midday on Thursday in bush 5km south of the Old Timers camp, on the outskirts of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, where she disappeared on Anzac Day.

The discovery came after police found her underwear at a crime scene near the camp, along with yellow top Lewis had been wearing on the night she vanished.

Forensic testing results today revealed that the underwear had traces of two DNA profiles which match Sharon and 47-year-old Lewis, police confirmed.

On Thursday, devastated mother Jacinta White revealed her grief in a heartbreaking statement and asked for Sharon to now be called Kumanjayi Little Baby.

‘I miss and love you,’ she said.

‘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.

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The body of five-year-old Sharon Granites was found 5km from where she was abducted

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The investigation has now turned to apprehending Lewis, who police allege murdered the child

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Child’s underwear found in the search had DNA traces matching both Sharon and Lewis

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Sharon’s father Raphael and mother Jacinta in a 2013 dated photo on Facebook

‘Ramsiah [Sharon’s brother] 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.’

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole described it as the worst possible outcome, and accused Lewis of murdering the girl, who his distant relative.

‘The focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis,’ NT Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said on Thursday afternoon.

‘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. And I say to Jefferson Lewis, we’re coming for you.’

Commr Dole added police ‘were not in a position today to provide answers around the cause of Sharon’s death, or how long she may have been deceased’.

‘A post-mortem examination will now be conducted, most likely tomorrow, and that will be a critical step in establishing those facts,’ he added.

‘The criminal investigation is ongoing, and a coronial process will now also begin. As a result, there will now be limitations on what we can say publicly.

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More than 170 people helped search for the little girl

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Searchers battled difficult conditions in chest-high grass and soft sand

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Police captured bodycam vision of Lewis in a distinctive yellow shirt on an unrelated callout

‘Finally, this is devastating news, not only for Sharon’s family, but also the first responders, the Alice Springs community, and all of those around Australia who have been worrying for Sharon.

‘The support shown during this time has been overwhelming, and this is the worst possible outcome.’

Mary Lewis, who is understood to be Lewis’s aunt, said she hadn’t seen her nephew since he was last in jail.

‘I’m sad. We are grieving. I don’t know what has happened,’ she told Daily Mail on Thursday.

Sharon’s family will now refer to her as Kumanjayi Little Baby.

Kumanjayi is a substitute name used by Warlpiri people for a deceased person, avoiding the taboo of speaking their name after death.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said they were now focused on supporting the grieving family and bringing Lewis to justice.

‘For five days, every Territorian has had their heart in their throat, waiting for the moment when we got the announcement that she’d been found safe and well… and that news did not come,’ she said.

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He spoke to police on the same day he is alleged to have abducted Sharon later that night

‘It’s fair to say everyone is feeling this loss acutely.’

‘I ask the people in Alice Springs and the Alice Springs community to really rally around each other at this really devastating time.

‘As a mother, as a member of our community, dark days like this rock everyone. And it’s certainly, you know, the heartbreak of this is real.

‘I’ve also spoken to our colleagues, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is the aunty of Kumanjayi Little Baby. And so over the days and weeks we stick together as Territorians.’

Police said Sharon and her mother had attended the address that night to do some washing and her mother was ‘distraught’ at her daughter’s disappearance.

It was confirmed this morning that Sharon was ‘non-verbal’ and communicated using her hands.

More than 170 volunteers have scoured chest-high grass and deep sand near Old Timers town camp since she vanished.

Just before her body was found, NT Police made a public callout for experienced civilian horse-riders to join the search.

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NT Police commissioner Martin Dole (left) and asst cmmr Peter Malley address media

Lewis was seen leading Sharon away around 11pm on the night of her disappearance, soon after her mother put her to bed, and police were called around 1.30am.

They had earlier attended the area that evening on an unrelated call, where Lewis – wearing the same yellow shirt later seized by forensic investigators at the crime scene – was captured on bodycam vision.

Police said at the time he is alleged to have abducted Sharon, he was ‘probably’ under the influence of alcohol following a social gathering.

Lewis remains at large, and does not have a vehicle, a phone or even a bank card, rendering modern-day investigation techniques used by police effectively useless.

In October 2024 Lewis was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with a 12-month non-parole period.

It’s understood Lewis – who was released from prison without conditions despite a lengthy list of criminal convictions – was staying at a home within Old Timers, and was known to Sharon’s family.

Lewis was sentenced to four months in prison in March 2025, after pleading guilty to breaching a domestic violence order and resisting police.

TIMELINE OF TRAGEDY

Saturday April 25, shortly before 11pm: Five-year-old Sharon Granites was tucked into bed by her mother at their home at the Old Timers town camp near Alice Springs.

She was wearing a dark blue short sleeve T-shirt with white ring stripes around the neck and sleeves and a pair of black boxer-style underwear.

Convicted criminal Jefferson Lewis, 47, was seen holding Sharon’s hand and leading her away from the site at about 11pm.

He had been staying at the dwelling where Sharon went missing following his release from prison just six days earlier.

April 26, 1.30am: Police were called to the camp to investigate the little girl’s disappearance.

NT Police launched a public appeal five hours later as an extensive search was launched.

April 27: Police reveal that Jefferson Lewis is suspected of abducting Sharon but remain hopeful that she is still alive.

They also revealed officers had been called out to the camp earlier on Saturday night, adding that Lewis was ‘likely affected by alcohol’.

April 29: Police reveal that Sharon’s underwear was found at a crime scene near the camp, along with a bed covering and a yellow top Lewis was seen wearing on the day the little girl went missing.

More than 170 volunteers scoured chest-high grass and deep sand near Old Timers town camp.

April 30 morning: Forensic testing results revealed that Sharon’s underwear had traces of two DNA profiles which matched both the little girl and Lewis.

April 30 afternoon: Sharon’s body is found in bushland 5km south of the Old Timers camp shortly before midday NT time, ending a five-day search.

Jefferson Lewis remains on the run.

Police believe he allegedly murdered Sharon.

‘The focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis,’ NT Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said on Thursday afternoon.

‘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. And I say to Jefferson Lewis, we’re coming for you.’

April 30: Mother Jacinta White revealed her grief in a heartbreaking statement and asked for Sharon to now be called Kumanjayi Little Baby.

‘I miss and love you,’ she said.

‘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 [Sharon’s brother] 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.’