Police search uncovers fourth body after discovery of two adults and a child in central Australia

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Northern Territory Police searching for a missing 12-year-old boy in remote central Australia say they have found the body of a child.

The body was found 120 metres from three other bodies, all from the one family, were found near their broken-down vehicle on Wednesday on Jarra Jarra Road.

A formal identification of the child is yet to be undertaken and police have not confirmed if it is the body of the 12-year-old boy believed to be a passenger in the car.

The bodies of a 19-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a three-year-old boy, described as a young family, were found late on Wednesday near Willowra, about 300km north-west of Alice Springs.

Their vehicle was about 70km from Willowra and was last seen leaving the township on Friday bound for Yarra Yarra.

The deaths are not considered suspicious with the bodies found about 4.5km from the vehicle. Remnants of food and water were also found at the scene.

Earlier in the day, police said it is possible, based on information from other family members, that a 12-year-old boy was also a passenger in the vehicle.

Family members have not authorised the release of the boy’s name.

“This is a tragic situation and our thoughts remain with the families affected by this incident,” Nobbs said.

He said while police would not speculate on the cause of death, or on exactly what happened to the vehicle, the incident was a timely reminder for people travelling on NT roads.

“Ensure that when you travel your vehicle is in a fit state, that you have sufficient supplies including water and a first aid kit, and that someone is aware of what your travel itinerary is, when you intend to leave, arrive and your anticipated routes,” he said.

First reports to police on Wednesday indicated the vehicle had crashed but once investigators arrived it was clear there had not been a crash.

Nobbs said the man who made the initial report to the health clinic in Wilowra would be interviewed.

“He will be a critical part of the investigation. He’s quite distraught about what he’s found,” he said.

The ABC reported that the three people found initially may have died from exposure.