In a shocking new development that has reignited nationwide obsession with the disappearance of 9-year-old Gus Lamont, police have confirmed that the abandoned property where the boy’s shirt was discovered last month was not as deserted as they once believed.
Forensic investigators now say there is evidence someone had been secretly living inside the derelict house for at least two weeks — and what they left behind has sent chills down the spines of even the most seasoned detectives.
“It wasn’t just a hideout,” one police source told reporters. “It was a message. And it was meant to be found.”
A disturbing scene inside the ruins
The house — a crumbling, graffiti-stained structure on the edge of a remote paddock — had long been considered a local eyesore. But when Gus Lamont’s mud-stained shirt was discovered in a corner of the property, investigators quickly sealed off the area.
At first, they believed the find was a random dump site. That theory has now been completely overturned.
Inside, forensic teams uncovered makeshift bedding, empty food tins, and traces of human activity suggesting that someone — likely an adult male — had taken shelter there in recent weeks.
But the most haunting discovery wasn’t the physical evidence. It was the writing on the walls.
‘He’s not gone. He’s here.’
Investigators say that in one of the rooms, written in black marker across the peeling plaster, were dozens of cryptic phrases, some repeated over and over.
The most disturbing of all:
“He’s not gone. He’s here.”
Other messages read:
“Don’t look under the floor.”
“They don’t know who I am.”
“It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
One officer described the scene as “straight out of a horror film.”
“Every corner of that house felt wrong,” said a first responder who entered the site. “You could feel it — whoever stayed there wasn’t just hiding. They were unraveling.”
DNA and fingerprints under review
Forensic teams have collected multiple DNA samples, hair strands, and fingerprints from the walls and discarded items.
According to a police spokesperson, none of the prints belong to Gus, but there is a “strong possibility” that they match someone already known to authorities.
“We’re not confirming anything yet,” Detective Sergeant Liam Hodge told reporters. “But if these prints match who we think they might, this case could take a terrifying turn.”
Neighbors have since come forward, saying they occasionally saw a light flickering inside the house late at night, but assumed it was teenagers trespassing.
One local, who asked not to be named, recalled hearing faint singing from inside just days before the discovery.
“It didn’t sound like a kid,” she said. “It sounded… older. Sad. Like someone talking to themselves.”
Psychological clues — or taunting messages?
Criminal psychologists now believe the writing on the walls may have been a form of self-confession or psychological release — or worse, a deliberate attempt to taunt investigators.
“Whoever wrote those words wanted control,” said Dr. Meredith Quinn, a criminal behavior analyst. “The phrase ‘He’s here’ could mean Gus, or it could be the author projecting guilt, delusion, or intent. Either way, it’s chilling.”
A case twisting into darkness
The Lamont family has been informed of the discovery, though police declined to share details of the messages.
Public reaction has been explosive, with online forums speculating that the mysterious occupant could be the same person seen on a nearby traffic camera two nights before the shirt was found.
Police continue to search the surrounding area with drones and infrared scanners, fearing more evidence — or more messages — could be hidden nearby.
“Whoever stayed in that house was sending a signal,” said a senior officer. “The question is — to whom?”
Unanswered questions multiply
If the fingerprints confirm a known suspect, it could mark the first major break in months. But for now, authorities remain cautious — and terrified of what the next discovery might reveal.
As night falls over Adelaide, one haunting truth lingers:
Someone lived in that abandoned house. Someone wrote those words. And someone out there still knows where Gus Lamont is.