BREAKING News: Air and Land Search for 12 Year Old Boy Missing After Three Found Dead in Outback

Police are investigating whether three people who died in Central Australia became separated from a broken down car and died from exposure.

The bodies of a 19-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a three-year-old boy were discovered near their broken down vehicle in the Willowra district, more than 300km north of Alice Springs, on Wednesday.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, Investigators revealed that a major land and air search is now underway for another child who they believe may have also been in the car.

“Further enquiries indicate it is possible a 12-year-old boy was a passenger in the vehicle and was not among the three people found dead,” police said.

Family members have not authorised the release of the child’s name, however have advised Police that members in the surrounding communities of Ali Curung, Ti Tree and Willowra are aware of his particulars.

NT police were alerted to the deaths near Willowra, around 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs, when a person walked into a local health clinic and raised the alarm just after midday yesterday.

It was first suspected the people died in a car crash, but Duty Superintendent Shaun Gill said that possibility had been ruled out.

Police do not believe the deaths were suspicious.

Duty Superintendent Gill said investigators were still driving back from the Jarra Jarra Access Road, about 62 kilometres from Willowra, as he spoke to ABC Radio this morning.

“One of the avenues we’re looking at is that they’ve walked off from a vehicle in extreme weather and may have got caught out,” he said.

“Initially we thought it was the result of a car crash, however we’re confident it’s not.

“We don’t believe the circumstances are suspicious.”

Police have not released details about the people who died. Police will continue investigations and prepare a report for the coroner.

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20 Comments

- - nealsq said
  - 30 Nov 2018
    10:31 pm
How horrible for their families, may they rest in peace

- - MrsA said
  - 27 Nov 2018
    9:38 pm
This is so sad

- - MrsMcD said
  - 18 Nov 2018
    3:06 pm
Unfortunately they found his body about 120m from the car, so horrible.

- - Misshenry said
  - 17 Nov 2018
    7:34 am
So sad

- - curlytops said
  - 14 Nov 2018
    11:09 am
is there an update on this story?

- - MuthaNita said
  - 12 Nov 2018
    9:20 pm
So sad and a tragic reminder of the harsh climate Australia can have. I hope the boy they’re looking for is found alive and well.

- - Ellen said
  - 12 Nov 2018
    4:00 am
How tragic this is ! I hope and pray they find this 12yr old alive and well !!

- - mom90758 said
  - 09 Nov 2018
    6:11 pm
Sadly it ended very badly. Poor child.
- mom93821 replied
  
  09 Nov 2018 , 7:44 pm
  Just saw a news update – so heartbreaking.
- - mom265671 said
  - 09 Nov 2018
    12:02 am
Very tragic and sad

- - mom7108 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    10:20 pm
Hope they find him safe and well, what a scary thing to happen. Very sad for the family that passed

- - Blossom said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    9:10 pm
This is a terrible tragedy. I fear for the fate of the missing 12 year old boy. Unless he found water very quickly it is such a hot area. We always carry a reasonable quantity of water in the boot of our car. We also take drink containers of water when we go out even if it is going to be only a few km. Even with constant servicing you never know when you may have car issues and have to wait for Emergency Vehicle Assistance. Even in a city metropolitan area you can wait quite awhile – even longer in bad weather. The same applies in country towns and you can wait over 1/2 hour even if you are reasonably close to a large country town.

- - becstalou said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    8:45 pm
How terrible I hope he’s found safe and well.

- - mom90758 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    8:33 pm
So scary. Let’s hope they will find the child safe and sound.

- - ashna9 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    7:52 pm
I hope they find him quickly.

- - mom160421 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    6:01 pm
I really hope he’s not too far and can be found soon.

- - mom74005 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    5:43 pm
This is just terrible news. Hopefully this young boy is found and hopefully he has some other family to go home to

- - Amanda Holland said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    5:02 pm
I do hope he is found

- - mom93821 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    4:05 pm
This is absolutely horrific! I do hope the other child is found quickly.

- - mom81879 said
  - 08 Nov 2018
    1:59 pm
What an awful place to break down, if that’s what’s happened here. I would be packing unlimited food and water to drive through here…..just in case