In a chilling new turn in the case of missing 8-year-old Gus Lamont, Australian investigators have confirmed that the boy’s backpack was found buried beneath freshly disturbed soil less than half a kilometer from where his shoe was discovered earlier this week.
The backpack — still intact but partially covered in mud — was found by forensic teams during an expanded grid search on Wednesday morning. Inside, officers uncovered a small notebook filled with Gus’s drawings, but one particular page has now become the centerpiece of the investigation.
“It’s a child’s drawing — but it’s unlike anything we’ve seen,” said one investigator who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It shows a tall figure standing next to a small house, with something written underneath in Gus’s handwriting.”
According to police sources, the words beneath the drawing read:
“He comes when the light goes out.”
What has left investigators stunned is the recognizable face sketched beside the figure — described by forensic analysts as bearing a striking resemblance to someone already known to the Lamont family.
Detectives are now comparing the drawing with photos of individuals close to Gus’s circle, and sources indicate one person of interest has been urgently brought in for questioning.
“This was not a random act,” said Detective Superintendent Erin Vale. “Every new discovery points to deliberate involvement by someone Gus trusted.”
Authorities have yet to release the full image of the drawing, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, but officials confirm it could become a critical piece of evidence in determining who was with Gus in his final known hours.
The area where the backpack was found remains sealed off as forensic experts continue to search for additional traces linking the site to the boy’s disappearance.
“This case has taken a dark and deeply personal turn,” one police source said. “The truth is closer than anyone realized.”