Gus Lamont updates LIVE: Missing four-year-old’s parents issue heartbreaking plea

With the conclusion of the press conference, that will wrap up our live coverage of the Gus Lamont disappearance for now. For any future updates and analysis, feel free to head to nine.com.au.

Here are the key takeaways from the press conference:

• South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced a $1 million reward was being introduced for any information that would lead to Gus Lamont being found, or any information that would help authorities find his body or lead to a conviction.
• Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, who is leading Task Force Horizon, said comprehensive analysis of aerial imagery of the Oak Park Station property where Gus was last seen had "identified anomalies", which police were working on following up.
• Gus Lamont's parents, Josh and Jess, spoke to camera for the first time in a pre-recorded statement, urging anyone with information to come forward, and sharing the pain and grief they have suffered since Gus went missing nearly 12 months ago.
•  Fielke reiterated that Gus' parents were not suspects, and that police were focusing their investigation on the theory that someone close to Gus is involved in his disappearance in some way, discounting theories that Gus wandered off or was abducted.
• Premier Malinauskas urged the South Australian and Australian public to take heed of the reward, insisting: "if you know something, you've gotta speak."

The press conference itself has now finished.

Gus' parents, Jess and Josh, spoke in a pre-recorded message, the first time they have appeared on camera.

You can read their full statements below.

Jess: 

“The disappearance of our son Gus has been the most devastating and inexplicable event we have ever experienced. We love him more than words can convey, and every single day without him has been incredibly difficult.

“Our heartache only grows as time passes and an entire year without any answers is upon us. Our memories of Gus are of a beautiful sweet and 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 cherish as my childhood home.

“He was learning so much and had such a bright future ahead of him. All of this has now been taken away from him. During the time Gus has been missing he should have celebrated his fifth birthday and his little brother’s first birthday with us.

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

“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 could be helpful. Please come forward and cooperate with police.”

Josh:

“The love and support we’ve had from family and friends has been overwhelming. 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 would also like to sincerely thank the community members, the SES volunteers, Australian Defence Force members and the police for working so hard to search.

“We miss Gus more than we can describe. We are desperate to have him return home to us and we are desperate for answers.

“We believe that someone knows something. Someone knows what happened to Gus and may even know where he is.”

Superintendent Fielke said today's public statement from Gus' parents, Josh and Jess, was difficult for them to do, as they were "private people" who had been thrust into the spotlight due to tragic circumstances.

"They are very private people, they have been thrust into the limelight, not of their doing. We speak to them regularly, it has taken them this long to come out and speak to the community, which I suppose is evidence of how private they are," he said. 

"They are grieving and they want their child back.

"They're brave."

Earlier in the press conference, Fielke reiterated that Josh and Jess were not suspects in Gus' disappearance.

Superintendent Darren Fielke became emotional as he thanked his officers and other emergency service personnel who have participated in the search of Gus Lamont.

He called the members of Task Force Horizon, which he leads, "amazing people" who have shown an "unwavering commitment", while holding back tears.

Gus' dad, Josh, is speaking now. After thanking family and friends for the love and support he and Jess received in the difficult year since Gus' disappearance, he said he was desperate to see his son or receive news of what happened to him.

"We are desperate to have him return home to us and we are desperate for answers," he said.

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

Josh also thanked police and emergency services for their efforts to find his son over the past year.

Gus Lamont's mother Jess has pleaded for people to come forward with any information, telling the community not to be fearful of giving evidence to police.

“Gus has been missing - he should have 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. Gus was adored by his little brother.

"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 could be helpful.

“Please come forward and cooperate with police.”

Detective Superintendent Fielke said that police believed it was "unlikely" that Gus had wandered off or been abducted by a third party, and insetead are focusing on investigating whether someone known to Gus is invovled in his disappearance.

"Two lines of those inquiry, those being Gus wandered off and Gus was abducted remain unlikely. So far, we have no evidence to support those theories, despite consistent and exhaustive investigative efforts," he said.

"Focus on Task Force Horizon remains on the third scenario, and that is that someone known to Gus, has been involved in his disappearance and suspected death."

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke has revealed that a comprehensive analysis of aerial imagery from the Oak Park Station found “some anomalies”.

He said police had conducted a "painstaking, methodical, forensically detailed manual search", which had resulted in the finds.

"As a result of that manual searching, we have identified some anomalies," he said.

"These anomalies are now being further reviewed, and depending on how that review plays out, will determine whether we return ot Oak Park Station and continue searching."

He did not elaborate on what those anomalies may have been.

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke is speaking now, and is providing an update into the investigation of the case.

"Sadly, despite one of the largest search operations ever undertaken, and one of the most intensive efforts [in relation] to a missing person in South Australia, we are yet to locate Gus," he said.

"There's been 11 separate ground searches conducted, and these searches have been the most visible aspect of this investigation."

He reiterated how the $1 million reward was a "life-changing amount of money" and urged anyone with knowledge of the case to "take advantage" of the reward.