Key items discovered in hunt for missing five-year-old NT girl Sharon Granites as search intensifies

A pair of children’s underwear is among several items found as the search for a missing Northern Territory girl — and a man suspected of abducting her — enters its fourth day.

Sharon Granites, 5, was reported missing from her home on Marshall Ct in Old Timers Camp, Alice Springs, about 1.35am on Sunday.

She was last seen by family when her mother put her to bed before 11pm on Saturday.

Police believe she left through an unlocked back door and was later led away by 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, who was seen holding her hand about 11pm.

A number of items were located on the banks of the Todd River behind Old Timers Camp on Sunday, including a pair of children’s underwear, a yellow shirt believed to have been worn by Lewis, and a doona cover, NT Police acting Commissioner Peter Malley said on Wednesday.

The items have been sent to Darwin for forensic analysis, with results expected on Thursday.

The area where they were found has since been cordoned off.

Malley said it is believed Lewis is still in the local area and may be receiving assistance from others.

Lewis does not have a phone, bank account or car, limiting police ability to track him through a digital footprint.

Officers have searched locations he previously frequented, based on data from an ankle monitor he had been wearing.

Lewis was released from prison six days before Sharon’s disappearance after serving an 18-month sentence for serious violence-related offences.

Police have also spoken with his wife and children in Yuendumu, who are assisting with inquiries.

Malley said police believe Sharon is still alive and finding her safe and well remains their “number one mission”.

“We speak to survival experts and we look at if she was wandering around on her own in the bush, how long she could survive for. We’re still within that time frame,” he said.

He described Sharon as a “very affectionate little girl” who is “loved by her family”.

The search has covered more than 5sqkm on foot and about 80sqkm by air, with more than 100 volunteers assisting.

Conditions have made the search challenging, with long grass, soft sand, rocks and large trees.

NT Police have sought assistance from Western Australia Police and are also considering potential links to Queensland and South Australia.

Malley urged Lewis to hand himself in.

“Hand yourself in, go to the nearest police station or give us a call and we’ll come and grab you,” he said.

He also urged the public not to approach him if seen but to contact police immediately with any information.

“We absolutely firmly believe that there’s members of the community that know where he is, where he went, and how to contact him, and we implore those people to come forward and give us that information,” Malley said.

Police have released images of Sharon and Lewis as they appeal for public assistance.

Sharon was last seen wearing a dark blue, short-sleeve T-shirt with a white ring stripe around the neck and a white ring stripe around the end of the sleeves, and a pair of black boxer-style underwear.

Anyone with information about Sharon’s whereabouts or Lewis is urged to call police.