Dezi Freeman update: Police reveal new vision as gunshot clue sparks renewed search for alleged cop killer

Police have revealed they “strongly believe” alleged double-murderer Dezi Freeman is dead — and their most likely three scenarios — as they launch a fresh search for the fugitive in what has become Victoria’s largest manhunt.

Just hours after returning to Mount Buffalo National Park in Victoria’s north-east on Monday, Detective Inspector Adam Tilley said police are yet to uncover any evidence to suggest Freeman is still alive.

“We don’t believe that he is still in the area alive,” he said.

“We have done extensive searching of the caves, the mines, the huts, the rivers.

“We are comfortable that we don’t believe he is here alive, however, we are keeping an open mind that that is a possibility.

“We do believe strongly that he is in this area deceased.”

Freeman has been missing since allegedly shooting dead Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, and seriously injuring a third officer as they served a warrant at his home in Porepunkah on August 26.

The officers had attended Freeman’s property to investigate a matter by the Wangaratta sexual offences and child abuse investigation team.

The fatal shootings occurred shortly after 10:30am that morning.

Freeman was last seen fleeing into the bush, on foot, at about 10.45am on August 26, carrying firearms.

Det-Insp Tilley said on Monday that police are “currently exploring three scenarios”.

“The first scenario being that Freeman is dead in the Mount Buffalo area, either by self-harm or misadventure,” he said.

“The second scenario … is he’s been able to escape the area and he’s being harboured by a person or people.

“And the third scenario … is that he has left the area and he’s on the run unassisted, and he just hasn’t been located.”

Where are police searching for Dezi Freeman?

This week more than 100 police and volunteers from Victoria and interstate are this week undertaking a fresh search for Freeman in a new and isolated section of the Mount Buffalo National Park.

The area being searched this week is adjoining an area, on the western side of the Buckland River, that was searched in December.

“The reason why we conducted the search, both in December and the reason we’re conducting the search this week is based on information that we received,” Det-Insp Tilley said.

“We’ve had a member of the public come forward and indicate to us (that) on that day, the 26th of August, about 12:29pm, this witness heard what they believed to be a gunshot so in the vicinity of this area.

“So as a result of that information, in November of last year, over three different occasions, detectives from the Summit Task Force, assisted by members from our Special Operations Group, conducted firearms testing in the local area, both at Renard track and Barrett’s lane.

“As a result of this analysis and firearms testing, it’s assisted us to identify these search locations.”

Det-Insp Tilley confirmed that police had corroborated that information and used acoustic testing at multiple locations to help pinpoint their new search area.

“We’ve obtained a statement from that person, and we’ve made a number of avenues of inquiry, and we’re comfortable that we believe it was a gunshot around 12:29pm,” he said.

Since August, hundreds of police, including specialist support from across the country and New Zealand, have participated in the search for Freeman.

“This is the largest man hunt that we have seen in Victoria, and tactically, it is the largest operation that’s occurred in Australia,” Det-Insp Tilley said.

“Detectives have investigated over 2000 pieces of information, including information provided by the public.

“Unfortunately, we have not, as yet, located Desmond Freeman.”

Police say information from the public is vital to solving the case.

“I urge anyone, if they do see Freeman, please do immediately contact triple zero,” said Det-Insp Tilley.

“We currently have a million dollar reward. This reward is different in nature compared to other rewards. It is not based on conviction.

“The reward is for information that leads to his arrest or his location. I urge anyone who has information to please come forward.”

Freeman was last seen at his Porepunkah property on August 26 shortly after the fatal shooting, wearing dark green (khaki) tracksuit pants, dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses.

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