Disappearance of the Beaumont Children
On January 26, 1966 (Australia Day), siblings Jane (9), Arnna (7), and Grant (4) Beaumont vanished from Glenelg Beach near Adelaide, South Australia. The children had
| Beaumont children disappearance | ||
 | ||
| Jane (9), Arnna (7), and Grant (4) Beaumont | ||
| disappeared | 26 January 1966 | |
| location | Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, South Australia | |
| Status | Missing | |
| age | 9, 7, and 4 years old | |
| classification | Missing persons case | |
| suspects | Unknown | |
| relatives | Jim Beaumont (father) Nancy Beaumont (mother) | |
gone swimming alone and failed to return home, sparking one of Australia's most extensive missing person investigations. Despite massive public searches and thousands of tips—including psychic claims that led to a fruitless excavation—no trace of the children was ever found. The case remains unsolved after nearly six decades, with police acknowledging it may never be resolved. The disappearance fundamentally changed Australian parenting norms, leading to increased supervision of children in public spaces.
Key details
Last sighting: The children were last seen near the beach after missing their bus home. Witnesses reported a tall, blond man interacting with them.
Psychic claims: Dutch clairvoyant Gerard Croiset asserted the children were buried beneath a warehouse at Paringa Park, leading to a publicly funded excavation in 1967. No evidence was found.[1]
Parental ordeal: Jim and Nancy Beaumont faced relentless rumors and hoaxes but maintained hope their children were alive, possibly taken abroad.
Police efforts: Two full-time detectives managed over 8,000 tips, including clairvoyant letters and anonymous accusations. The case file filled a six-foot cabinet.
Legacy
The case remains open, with police stating it could "be cleared up tomorrow—or never."[2]
