According to a senior investigator, a “despicable” gang that “peddles beliefs and false information” is hiding a five-year-old child who has gone missing.
Since disappearing together on August 9 from a residence in Berrimah, in Darwin’s east, Grace Hughes and her mother Laura Hinks, also known as Laura Bolt, have not been located.
The Australian Federal Police and local police have promised to return Grace to her ‘lawful guardian’ as police have stepped their attempts to do so.
The organisation that kidnapped Grace, according to Northern Territory Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jon Beer, “continues to propagate beliefs and false information.”
The NT Police, said to Sgt. Beer, “will continue to target this group and any other individuals aiding the continuous harbouring of Grace.”
“Police will utilise every tool at their disposal to find Grace.”
“Anyone proven to have harboured those who kidnapped Grace will face serious accusations before the courts,” the statement reads.
When a supervised parental visit, the mother and daughter disappeared after Ms. Hinks, 34, left a residence at approximately 1pm on Hidden Valley Road.
Days after their abduction, authorities issued an appeal to anyone they thought were actively attempting to hide Grace.
On Saturday, NT Police made the announcement that a 50-year-old woman had been charged in relation to Grace’s disappearance.
She made an appearance in court in Darwin on Monday on one count of kidnapping a minor and one count of trying to kidnap a minor.
The lady reportedly refused to provide police information that would help them locate the child and her mother.
The alleged kidnapping, according to Detective Superintendent Kirsten Engels, would be bad for the five-year-mental old’s health.
We are certain that members of the neighbourhood will be able to help us since they will be aware of Grace’s location and be in a position to do so, she added on Sunday.
“We are asking you to do the right thing, reach out, phone the police, and let us know any information you have, no matter how little,” they said.
The five-year-old must be returned, according to Supt. Engels, so she may attend to school and be reunited with her pals.
“Grace is not suitable in this circumstance,” she added, adding that whatever problems are stopping her from returning should and should be resolved in the proper manner.
Grace’s health and safety are our top priorities since we know that being taken out of this conference and away from her siblings would be a very distressing experience for her.
It is most likely going to negatively impact her emotional and psychological health.
“Ms. Hinks no longer seems to be residing at her last known residence in Moulden (at neighbouring Palmerston),” according to public records.
Grace is characterised as having brown eyes and hair, as well as a light complexion.
She wore a white dress with short sleeves, white socks, and black sneakers when she was last seen.
Her mother has dark eyes and hair, a slim build, and a fair complexion.
She was last seen sporting an ankle-length, floral-patterned dress or skirt in white and green, along with a long-sleeved shirt in either white or cream.
Police or Crime Stoppers are urged to be contacted by anyone with information.