In a major breakthrough in the Sharon Granites case, investigators have revealed that digital forensic evidence from a suspect’s device shows a direct compass bearing pointing toward the exact location where the 5-year-old’s body was discovered.

According to court documents filed in Northern Territory courts, data extracted from Jefferson Lewis’s phone and GPS-enabled applications showed multiple instances where the device’s compass function was actively used in the hours and days following Sharon’s disappearance. The coordinates and directional data strongly align with the remote scrubland area, approximately 5 kilometers from the Ilyperenye town camp, where her body was ultimately found.

Forensic analysts described the evidence as “highly incriminating,” noting that the suspect appeared to have repeatedly checked directional bearings consistent with traveling to and from the discovery site. This digital footprint directly contradicts Lewis’s earlier statements to police, in which he claimed no knowledge of the child’s whereabouts after the night of April 25.

The new evidence has significantly strengthened the prosecution’s case, shifting the narrative from circumstantial links to more concrete technological corroboration. Police Commissioner Martin Dole stated that the compass data forms part of a “compelling digital chain” that places the suspect in close proximity to the crime scene during the critical timeframe.

Sharon’s family has expressed cautious relief at the latest development, hoping it brings them closer to full accountability. Community leaders in Alice Springs continue to call for systemic reforms to better protect vulnerable children in town camps following this tragedy.

The case against Jefferson Lewis is expected to proceed to trial with this new digital evidence playing a central role. Lewis maintains his innocence and remains in custody.

This technological breakthrough highlights the increasing importance of digital forensics in modern investigations, turning everyday device functions into powerful tools for justice.