Those words now serve as a heartbreaking farewell to 5-year-old Sharon Granites, affectionately known to her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby. After days of desperate searching and hope, the tragic discovery of her body has left a family, a community, and an entire region mourning the loss of a little girl gone far too soon.

A Search That Ended in Tragedy
The intensive search for Sharon, who was believed to have been abducted from her home in Old Timers Camp, Alice Springs, has ended in devastating circumstances.

Sharon was reported missing at approximately 1:35 a.m. on Sunday after disappearing from her family’s home. On Thursday, just before midday, authorities located her body around 5 kilometers from where she was last seen.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole described the discovery as an “incredibly distressing development.”

“Sharon’s family have been formally notified, and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time,” he said.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding her death.

A Mother’s Heartbreaking Farewell
In an emotional statement shared through police representatives, Sharon’s mother expressed her grief in a letter addressed to her beloved daughter.

“Me and Ramsiah miss and love you,” she wrote.

“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 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.”

A Grandfather’s Grief
Sharon’s grandfather, Robin Granites, struggled to contain his sorrow as he spoke about his granddaughter.

“There was nothing I could do—just cry,” he said.

“She was a really nice little girl. A good, quiet girl.”

Robin recalled learning that Sharon had disappeared while attending a nearby Anzac Day memorial event.

“I heard it was my granddaughter who had been taken,” he said.

Throughout the search, he had continued to pray for her safe return, describing her as a gentle child deeply loved by her family.

Investigation Intensifies
Police allege that 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis was seen holding Sharon’s hand around 11 p.m. on the night she disappeared.

During the investigation, officers recovered several items along the banks of the Todd River behind Old Timers Camp, including children’s underwear, a yellow shirt believed to have been worn by Lewis, and a doona cover.

Authorities later confirmed that DNA testing identified two profiles on the underwear—Sharon’s and Lewis’s.

Police now believe Lewis is responsible for Sharon’s death and have launched an intensive effort to locate him.

“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he has murdered this child,” Commissioner Dole said.

“Do not ᴀssist him. Get him to the police station, and we’ll look after him.

“And I say to Jefferson Lewis: we’re coming for you.”

A Manhunt Underway
Investigators believe Sharon was put to bed by her mother on Saturday night before leaving through an unlocked back door. Police allege she was later led away by Lewis, who had been staying at the home and disappeared around the same time.

Authorities believe he was under the influence of alcohol during the alleged abduction.

Lewis had been released from prison only six days before Sharon vanished, after serving an 18-month sentence for serious violent offenses. Between 2016 and 2025, he accumulated multiple convictions, including aggravated ᴀssaults, domestic violence order breaches, resisting police, and bail violations.

Police believe he remains in the local area and may be receiving ᴀssistance from others.

“We firmly believe there are members of the community who know where he is, where he went, and how to contact him,” Acting Commissioner Peter Malley said.

“We urge those people to come forward.”

Remembering Sharon
Family members described Sharon as a loving and affectionate child who was non-verbal and often communicated through gestures and hand movements.

She was cherished by those around her, and her disappearance sparked an enormous community search effort involving police, volunteers, and local residents.

Before the tragic discovery, her grandfather had delivered an emotional plea directly to the suspect:

“I want you to send that baby back. She is our baby. She is just too small. Please, can you bring her back? We want her back safe.”

A Community in Mourning
Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the tragedy had shaken the entire region.

“The heartbreak of this is real,” she said.

“We are focused on a grieving family, a grieving town, and a grieving Northern Territory.”

As the community mourns the loss of a young life taken far too soon, authorities continue their search for the person responsible.

Sharon Granites was only five years old.

Though her life was tragically short, she will be remembered by her family as a sweet, gentle, and deeply loved little girl whose memory will never be forgotten. 💔🕊️