Missed birthdays and milestones: Gus Lamont's parents share heartbreak

In the days and months Gus Lamont has been gone from their lives, his parents say the boy has missed out on his fifth birthday and his baby brother's milestones.

Jess and Josh have spoken out on camera for the first time in an emotional plea for answers as the first anniversary of Gus's disappearance approaches on Sunday.

In a video shared by SA Police on Wednesday, the pair sat stoically together, sharing their heartbreak over their son's absence.

"We are desperate to have him returned home to us and we are desperate for answers," father Josh said before his voice began to crack.

"We believe that someone knows something, someone knows what happened to Gus, and may even know where he is."

Jess said young Gus was "adored" by his little brother.

"During the time that Gus has been missing, he should've celebrated his fifth birthday and his little brother's first birthday with us,"

she said.

"One of the most heartbreaking things is that Gus and his little brother will not grow up and share their lives together."

Jess said their heartache only grows as time passes.

"An entire year without any answers is upon us," she said.

"The disappearance of our son Gus has been the most devastating and inexplicable event that we have ever experienced.

"We love him more than words can convey and every single day without him has been incredibly difficult.

"Our memories of Gus are of the beautiful, sweet, unique little boy who loved music, listening to stories and playing in the natural world.

"Gus was growing up in an amazing environment, one that I cherished as my childhood home.

"He was learning so much and had such a bright future ahead of him, but all of this has now been taken away from him."

Gus was reported missing from Oak Park Station, about 40 kilometres south of Yunta, on September 27, 2025.

Jess and Josh's plea was played in a press conference where SA Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a $1 million reward to anyone who can provide answers leading to a conviction or the location of his remains.

"Even if you are feeling scared or unsure, if you know anything at all, we are imploring you to help us, even the smallest detail may be helpful, please come forward and cooperate with police," Jess said.

Gus's father Josh also thanked the emergency services and local community for the search efforts in the past year.

"The love and support we've had from family and friends has been overwhelming," he said. 

"It's kept us going and helped us remain strong and hopeful for the future. We'll never be able to thank them enough. 

"We miss Gus more than we can describe."

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said Gus's parents are private people who have been "thrust into the limelight, not of their doing".

"You can see they are grieving and they want their child back," he said.

Despite what SA police described as "one of the largest, most intensive and most protracted searches ever undertaken" in the state, the quest to find the boy remained unresolved.

On Wednesday, Detective Superintendent Fielke said one of Gus's grandparents remained a suspect in the police investigation into the boy's disappearance.

Gus's grandparents, Josie and Shannon Murray, have previously released a statement saying the family had "cooperated fully with the investigation.