The desperate search for five-year-old Sharon Granites has ended in unimaginable tragedy. The little girl, lovingly known to her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby, was found ᴅᴇᴀᴅ just before midday on Thursday, about five kilometres from where she was reported missing in Alice Springs.

Sharon was last seen at her home on Marshall Court in Old Timers Camp around 1:35am on Sunday. According to police, she was led away by 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who was staying at the family home at the time. The discovery of her body has left her family, the local community, and the entire Northern Territory in profound grief.

NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole described the development as “incredibly distressing.” He confirmed that Sharon’s family had been formally notified and expressed the force’s deepest sympathies. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for Friday as investigations continue.

In a heartbreaking statement read by NT Police’s executive director of cultural reform, Leanne Liddle, Sharon’s mother shared a deeply personal message to her daughter. “To Kumanjayi Little Baby,” the letter began. “Me and Ramsiah miss and love you. 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.”

Sharon’s grandfather, Robin Japanangka Granites, spoke with quiet sorrow about his granddaughter. “She was a really nice, little, good, quiet girl,” he said. He described hearing the news while attending an Anzac Day memorial nearby and expressed his helplessness. “There was nothing I could do — just cry.”

Police believe Sharon was put to bed by her mother on Saturday night before leaving through an unlocked back door. Lewis, who had been released from prison just six days earlier after serving an 18-month sentence for serious violence-related offences, is alleged to have taken her. Items including children’s underwear, a yellow shirt believed to belong to Lewis, and a doona cover were later found on the banks of the Todd River. DNA profiles matching both Sharon and Lewis were identified on the underwear.

NT Police have made it clear they believe Lewis murdered the child. Acting Commissioner Peter Malley urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward, stating firmly that those who may be ᴀssisting him should not. “We absolutely firmly believe that there’s members of the community that know where he is,” he said.

The case has sent shockwaves through Alice Springs and beyond. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro acknowledged the “dark days” facing the community and expressed solidarity with the grieving family, describing Sharon as a “very affectionate little girl” loved deeply by those around her.

As the investigation continues, Sharon’s family is left to navigate a pain no family should ever have to bear. In their statement, they spoke of their faith and the hope of one day being reunited with their little girl in heaven. For now, they are surrounded by the love of a community that has rallied behind them during the search and now shares in their mourning.

Sharon Granites may be gone, but her memory — as a sweet, quiet, and deeply loved little girl — will remain. Her family’s words of love and faith stand as a testament to the bond they shared, even as they face the long and difficult road ahead without her.

The search for justice continues. Police remain determined to locate Jefferson Lewis and bring him before the courts. For Sharon’s family, the hope is that one day they will see her again — and that her brother will finally be able to give her the biggest hug, just as he promised.