WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story includes the name and image of an Indigenous person who has passed away.
This article may be distressing to some readers.
Northern Territory police have confirmed the body of a missing five-year-old has been discovered, bringing to a tragic end the massive search set in motion following her disappearance last Saturday.
Her family has asked for her to be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby, in line with cultural protocol.
The Executive Director of Cultural Reform with the NT Police, Leanne Liddle, gave a statement on behalf of the family on Thursday.
"I have a message from Mum and the immediate family: 'To Kumanjayi Little Baby ... I miss and love you.
"'I know you are in heaven with the rest of the family and Jesus ... Me and your brother will meet you one day.
"'It is going to be so hard to live the rest of our lives without you ... Love from Mum.'"
NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole expressed his sympathies for the family in a press conference.
"This is devastating news, not only for [Kumanjayi Little Baby's] family, but also the first responders, the Alice Springs community and all of those around Australia who have been worried for [her]," he said.
"The support shown during this time has been overwhelming, and this is the worst possible outcome."
Residents at Old Timer's Camp, the settlement five kilometres south of Alice Springs where Kumanjayi Little Baby lived with her family, reported seeing her in the company of 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis on Saturday evening.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said the police focus would now turn to locating Lewis.
"So I say to the family of Jefferson Lewis that we believe he's murdered this child. Do not assist him," he said.
"And I say to Jefferson Lewis, we're coming for you."
Commissioner Dole also confirmed a post-mortem examination is currently underway.
"We're not in a position today to provide answers around the cause of [her] death or how long she may have been deceased.
"A postmortem examination will now be conducted, most likely tomorrow, and that will be a critical step in establishing those facts. The criminal investigation is ongoing, and a coronial process will now also begin."
The girl was reported missing soon after she was seen in the company of Mr Lewis, setting in motion a huge search effort involving police, investigators, the ADF and scores of volunteers traversing the surrounding area's difficult terrain in vehicles and on foot.
Police reported Lewis did not use a cell phone and did not access bank accounts, making their search very difficult and more reminiscent of the investigations of last century.
Items recovered during the search for the little girl included a pair of children's underwear.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley, who has led the investigation, said DNA testing had revealed the presence of both Kumanjayi Little Baby's and Jefferson Lewis' genetic material.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she had spoken with Kumanjayi Little Baby's mother on Thursday afternoon, and expressed her "deep sympathy".
"Right now we are focused on a grieving family, a grieving town, and a grieving Northern Territory," she said.
"As police have said, we now focus our energy on making sure we find the person who did this and bring them to justice ... for [Kumanjayi]."
The Chief Minister said 200 people had been involved in the search, and that people across the Territory and the country had been hoping for her to be found safe and well.
She said the day's tragic development would be felt "acutely".
"Our hearts are with people grieving this loss and my thanks go to every single person who volunteered to walk through the bush ... to do everything they could to find her."
