Arabic version: انتهاء البحث الرسمي عن الرضيع في بورت ماكدونيل

According to ABC News, police have ended formal efforts to recover the body of three-month-old Lewis at Port MacDonnell in South Australia’s south-east, more than a fortnight after a suspected murder-suicide.

The bodies of 36-year-old Helena Wright and her 23-month-old daughter Hazel were recovered on July 27, but Lewis was not found. Limestone Coast officer in charge Superintendent Trent Cox said water operations members conducted three dives last Thursday before weather stopped the effort. He said they were unable to find the infant and that it was now unlikely his body would ever be found.

Emergency services carried out aerial, ground and water searches for Lewis. While the formal search has ceased, Superintendent Cox said police would still investigate reports of material that may wash up in the future.

Superintendent Cox also called for an end to online speculation, saying unsupported social media discussion was distressing for Mr Wright and the extended family. He said police understood the community’s need for information, but had duties to the coroner to provide only factual information as the material was compiled.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the force was preparing a wide-reaching report for the coroner after confirming Ms Wright attended the Mount Gambier police station the night before the incident. He said police would not wait for an inquest’s findings to make changes if needed, while Superintendent Cox described the review as standard after any critical incident.