Sharon Granites, known by her family as Kumanjayi Little Baby, disappeared from her home in Australia on April 26, 2026. Northern Territory Police immediately began searching for the 5-year-old. Tragically, they announced on April 30 the discovery of a body believed to be Kumanjayi Little Baby. The police force pleaded for the public’s help in finding a recently released prisoner named Jefferson Lewis, who they suspect abducted and killed the innocent child. Police would stop at nothing until they had Lewis in custody.
Family last saw Kumanjayi Little Baby at her home in Alice Springs.
According to ABC News Australia, Kumanjayi Little Baby lived with her family at Old Timers/Ilyperenye Aboriginal town camp on the outskirts of Alice Springs. She went missing in the early morning, and police say she was seen with 47-year-old Lewis before she disappeared. NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole delivered the tragic news during a media conference, per ABC News Australia.
Dole said investigators found the body of an Aboriginal girl believed to be Kumanjayi Little Baby in the early afternoon about 3 miles from her home. The commissioner offered condolences to her family. “Our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time,” he said, per the outlet.
Evidence at the scene reportedly linked the crime to Lewis. Peter Malley, police assistant commissioner for Crime and Intelligence, said investigators found a yellow shirt belonging to Lewis and a pair of children’s underwear.
“Of significance is the pair of child’s underwear,” Malley said. “We located two DNA profiles on the underwear. One is expected to belong to the little girl, and the other belongs to Jefferson Lewis.”
The investigation moved directly to Lewis.
Malley confirmed that police would focus on finding Lewis. He sent a stern warning to those who know him.
“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he’s murdered this child,” Malley asserted, per ABC News Australia. “Do not assist him; get him to the police station, and we’ll look after him.” Then Malley let the suspected killer know where he stands. “And I say to Jefferson Lewis, we’re coming for you.”
Malley declined to release a cause of death or timeline, pending a post-mortem examination.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she’d spoken with the child’s mother and would do everything in her power to find Lewis.
“Absolutely everything is on the table for us as a government,” Finocchiaro said of a potential reward. “We will throw every resource we have available at this, and we’ll be led by the police investigation.”
NT Police Force announced the capture of Lewis in the overnight hours but did not release details.
“A short time ago, the Northern Territory Police Force located and arrested Jefferson Lewis at a residence in Alice Springs,” police noted in a news released posted on Facebook. “Further information will be provided early in the morning.”
Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family shared a heart-wrenching message.
Leanne Liddle, NT Police’s executive director of cultural reform, shared the following statement on behalf of the child’s family:
To Kumanjayi Little Baby,
Me and [your brother] 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.
It didn’t take long for the authorities to catch Lewis. With the help of an outraged community, we hope he’ll be behind bars for the rest of his life.
