Tragedy in central Australia: Police found body in search for missing Indigenous girl

Australian police found a body on Thursday believed to be that of a missing five-year-old Indigenous girl, known as Kumanjayi Little Baby, and are searching for the man who allegedly murdered her. She was located about 5km from her home following a massive air and land search.

Meanwhile, authorities are searching for a man alleged to have murdered her. A coronial investigation and autopsy are planned to determine the exact cause of death. 

According to police, they have located the body of a young Indigenous girl believed to be the victim, shortly before midday on Thursday about 5m (3miles) south of the original crime scene.

They further clarified that the chief suspect is 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, a formerly incarcerated man who was in the area at the time of her disappearance.

“The focus right now is to locate Jefferson Lewis. It is ​our sole job in this investigation right now,” Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said at a news conference.

“I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he murdered this child. Do not ​assist him. Get him to the police station and we'll look after him.”

“And I say ​to Jefferson Lewis, we're coming for you.”

As reported by Reuters, authorities have scheduled an autopsy and a coronial investigation to determine the exact cause of death for Kumanjayi Little Baby. 

Before the discovery, hundreds of people participated in extensive land and air searches across difficult desert terrain. 

The text notes that while Indigenous Australians have inhabited the land for 50,000 years, they were marginalized by British colonial rule, leading to decades of struggle for reconciliation. 

It has been observed that thousands live in communities known as camps on the outskirts of Alice Springs, where housing and services are often inadequate. 

Despite making up only 3.8% of the population, Indigenous Australians face disproportionately high rates of incarceration and suicide, and they rank low on most economic and social indicators.