Police have found the body of a child believed to be that of a missing five-year-old girl in Alice Springs, bringing a tragic end to a five-day search.
Discovery Confirmed
The Northern Territory police commissioner, Martin Dole, told reporters the discovery was made just before noon local time on Thursday. The girl's family has requested she be referred to as Kumanjayi Little Baby, in line with cultural protocols.
“Just before midday today, police members of the search party located the body of a young Aboriginal girl we believe to be five-year-old [Kumanjayi Little Baby],” Dole said at a press conference in Alice Springs.
The body was found about 5km south of her home at Old Timers town camp. “This is an incredibly distressing development. [Her] family have been formally notified and our thoughts are firmly with them at this devastating time,” police said.
Search Efforts
A line of police officers and volunteer searchers had been scouring bushland opposite the racecourse as the search entered its fifth day. The community had been holding out hope for the girl's safe return.
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