What would eventually become one of the most haunting crimes in Australia’s history started with a search of the Beaumonts’ residence, police wanting to rule out that the children weren’t hiding. Jim was taken in patrol cars by police as they searched streets at Glenelg Street and Somerton Park. When the cops left him, Jim got in his patrol car again and continued to look.

By morning, boats from the Sea Rescue Squadron had joined the search efforts, the airport and train stations were alerted and roadblocks were put up to monitor anyone driving in and out of the state of Adelaide. So that all could hear, police manned streets with loud speakers to ask if anybody had seen Beaumont kids. Jim was a Taxi driver who spread the word. People of all ages, Jane’s Brownie troop and others combed the area.

And, naturally, reporters flocked to the family’s house, and Jim addressed them mid-morning on Jan. 28 from his back porch. “Somebody must be holding them against will. Otherwise, they would have returned home by now,” Jim said. It’s all a mystery to me. They will all be crying. It’s almost like a nightmare.”