The investigation into the disappearance of 10-year-old Gus Lamont has just taken a chilling and completely unexpected turn — one that could unravel everything police thought they knew about the case.
Authorities confirmed late Thursday that a blood sample discovered on a low tree branch near the riverbank, roughly nine kilometers from Gus’s home, has returned DNA results that do not match Gus — and shockingly, do not belong to the primary suspect either.
“We were confident this sample would connect directly to our person of interest,” one senior investigator told The Chronicle. “Instead, it opened up a whole new layer of mystery. Someone else was there.”
⚠️ A Mysterious Third Presence
The discovery was made by a search-and-rescue volunteer who noticed what appeared to be a dried smear of blood on the bark of a bent willow tree near the water’s edge — a location that had been previously combed and cleared by officers just days earlier.
Forensic teams immediately secured the area, collecting not only the blood sample but also footprints and fibers found in nearby brush. When the lab results came back, investigators were stunned: the DNA belonged to a third, unidentified individual.
“We’re now looking at the very real possibility of another person’s involvement — someone who was neither the victim nor the original suspect,” said Detective Laura Keane, lead investigator on the case. “It changes the entire timeline.”
🌙 The Riverbank — A Place That Should’ve Been Safe
The area where the blood was found lies along Maple Creek, a quiet stretch often used by locals for fishing. But recent heavy rainfall had caused minor flooding, making it difficult to search during the early days of the investigation.
When the water receded, the blood appeared — fresh enough to have been left within the last week. Experts say it was likely transferred by human contact, possibly during a struggle or while carrying an object.
“The pattern on the bark isn’t consistent with an accidental cut,” a forensic expert explained. “It looks like someone grabbed the tree for support — maybe while injured.”
🕵️ A Third Person — Accomplice or Victim?
The revelation has left detectives scrambling to piece together who this “unknown third person” could be — and what role they played in Gus Lamont’s disappearance.
Some investigators believe it could point to a second perpetrator, possibly someone helping to move Gus or conceal evidence. Others, however, fear a darker possibility: that a second victim may now be involved.
“If this person was hurt at the scene,” one law enforcement source said, “we need to know whether they’re still out there — or if they, too, met a violent end.”
The blood sample is now being compared against state and federal DNA databases, including profiles from missing persons and criminal offenders. So far, no match has been confirmed.
🚨 Police Expand the Search Zone
In response to the new findings, officers have expanded the search perimeter by nearly two kilometers, focusing on wooded paths and trails leading away from the creek. Drones, cadaver dogs, and thermal imaging equipment have been deployed once again.
“This isn’t just about finding Gus anymore,” said one officer on site. “It’s about uncovering what else happened out there.”
💬 Family Left “Speechless and Heartbroken”
The Lamont family, who had been holding on to a fragile sense of hope after recent developments, released a short, emotional statement through their spokesperson:
“We don’t know what this means or who this new person is. We just want answers. Please, if anyone knows anything — speak up.”
Outside the Lamont residence, neighbors gathered for a candlelight vigil. Many said they now fear the case is “far darker and more complicated” than anyone imagined.
🧩 The Case That Keeps Getting Stranger
This latest twist comes only days after police confirmed that DNA found under Gus’s fingernails belonged to a “known associate” of the family — a breakthrough that had appeared to solidify the case against a primary suspect.
Now, with the appearance of a third person’s blood, investigators are being forced to reexamine every piece of evidence, including cell tower data, tire tracks, and CCTV footage from the area surrounding Maple Creek.
“It’s no longer a straight line,” one insider said grimly. “It’s a web — and someone’s still out there.”