Northern Territory police have charged Jefferson Lewis with murder and two counts of sexual assault over the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby.

The Warlpiri girl went missing on Saturday, 25 April, from her bed in a town camp near Alice Springs.

Kumanjayi Little Baby’s mother last saw her at 11.30pm, tucked into bed at the Old Timers or Ilyperenye town camp, police said. When she went to check on her at 1.30am, she was gone.

Hundreds of volunteers carried out a desperate search but after five days, her body was found.

Lewis, 47, was arrested on Thursday.

On Sunday, police announced Lewis had been charged with murdering Kumanjayi Little Baby, the name used after her death at her family’s request in line with cultural traditions.

He also faced two charges of sexually assaulting her and was remanded in custody of an expected appearance in Darwin local court on Tuesday.

More details to come.