In brief
- The search for five-year-old Sharon Granites and her suspected abductor has entered its fourth day.
- Recently released prisoner Jefferson Lewis is believed to have lured Sharon away from her town camp residence.
An outback search for a five-year-old and her suspected abductor is ramping up as it enters its fourth day, with authorities believing the missing girl is still alive.
On Tuesday, scores of people scoured tough terrain near Alice Springs in the hunt for Sharon Granites and recently released prisoner Jefferson Lewis.
The 47-year-old is believed to have lured Sharon away from her Old Timers town camp residence on Sunday while likely affected by alcohol after earlier being seen holding the little girl's hand, police said on Tuesday.
Lewis is not directly related to Sharon but had been staying at her family's home when she disappeared, police said.
He had been released from prison just six days earlier.
At first light on Wednesday, police planned to relaunch a search that would include mounted police horses, helicopter aerial searches and thermal imaging drones.
Community 'holding its breath'
The isolated community, which has been urged to come forward with any information, has thrown their support behind Sharon's family, with over 130 people involved in Tuesday's search.
Local businesses donated food to help those searching.
Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill told AAP that a town council meeting on Tuesday night was opened with a prayer for Sharon and her safe return.
"There is intense worry reverberating through the whole community, it's as though the whole community is holding its breath," she said.
On Wednesday, the South Sudanese community sent a message to its members, calling on them to join the search.
"[We] would like to ... invite all members of you are free tomorrow from 9am to join the police in search for the five-years-old little girl that missing from Sunday night," the statement read.
"Thank you for your support at this hard time we pray for the safety of the little angel that is missing and hope that she will be reunited with her family and loved ones soon thank you."
No sightings of Sharon or Lewis have been confirmed but police did not rule out the pair being within an established 20 square kilometre search zone, telling media on Tuesday they believed the girl was still alive.
Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said the suspected abduction was "every parent's worst nightmare".
"To her family — our thoughts are with you," she said in a post on Facebook on Monday.
"To the community— this is the moment to step up. Someone knows something.
"Let's help bring her home."
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
