Alice Springs Police Hunt Ex-Prisoner Jefferson Lewis After Five-Year-Old Sharon Vanishes

Authorities in Australia's Northern Territory have declared the disappearance of a five-year-old girl in Alice Springs an abduction, focusing their search on a man recently released from prison.

Sharon, whose surname was not released, was put to bed at her family's residence in an Aboriginal town camp shortly before midnight on Saturday. She has not been seen since.

Police Seek Jefferson Lewis

Acting Commander Mark Grieve of the Northern Territory Police confirmed on Monday that investigators are urgently seeking 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis. Lewis, who was reportedly staying at the Old Timers camp, vanished concurrently with the child's disappearance.

Commander Grieve issued a public appeal for information, as police units, volunteers, dog squads, drones, and a helicopter meticulously search the surrounding bushland and desert.

Sharon was last observed wearing a dark blue T-shirt with a white trim and black boxer-style underwear. Police noted Lewis's history of domestic and family violence offences, stating he remains one of the few individuals present at the camp who has not contacted law enforcement or been located by them.

The extensive search effort aims to locate Sharon and safely reunite her with her family, according to Grieve.