Northern Territory Police say some in the community "absolutely know" where the man accused of abducting five-year-old Sharon Granites is.
Police believe Sharon is still alive after she was allegedly kidnapped from a home in the Aboriginal town camp of Old Timers, on the outskirts of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, on Saturday night.
The search has entered its fourth day, with scores of police officers, Aboriginal trackers, defence force members and volunteers combing tough desert terrain for the young girl and her alleged abductor, 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis.
NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole told reporters they believe people in the community are helping Mr Lewis.
"Let me be clear about one thing in relation to that, we believe that there are members of the community that absolutely know where Jefferson Lewis is," he said.
"What I want to say to you is tell us.
"Tell us what you know. Tell us where he is. Tell us how to contact him. If you are withholding information because you are frightened, please have confidence that we will treat that information sensitively."
Addressing the evidence, Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said NT Police had "seized a number of items from that crime scene".
These include a "doona cover, the shirt that Jefferson Lewis was wearing — it was a distinct yellow one — and we seized a pair of child's underwear from that location," he said.
"Those items have now been transported to Darwin and they are undergoing forensic analysis and I expect to have that back tomorrow."
Asked about a pair of children's underwear being found at the crime scene, Assistant Commissioner Malley said the possibility of Sharon being sexually assaulted was "certainly on the table for us".
"That's under investigation and like I said, those items are being forensically examined and we should have those results back tomorrow to maybe confirm or deny that," he said.
Police believe Sharon is still alive and remains in the area.
"We speak to survival experts and we look at if she was wandering around on her own in the bush and how long she could survive for, and we're still within that timeframe," Assistant Commissioner Malley said.
"But once again, we're considering everything, and she may have come to harm, but we still think she is alive and our number one mission is to find her safe and well."
Of people helping Mr Lewis, he added: "I caution anyone giving him a hand, because when we do get him, and it's only a matter time, you might be in strife as well."
He said the young girl's family described her as "a very affectionate little girl" who was "loved" by all, adding: "It's a horrible thing they're going through at the moment."
Police allege Mr Lewis lured Sharon away after he was seen holding a little girl's hand during a party at the camp. He had been released from prison six days earlier and has a history of violence.
Between 2016 and 2025, he was sentenced to 64 months in prison for offences including aggravated assault, breaching domestic violence orders, bail offences and resisting police.
With AAP
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