Victorian Farmers Fear Organised Crime Gang Behind Brutal Murder of Sheep Grazier
Victorian farmers are expressing grave concerns that a ruthless Middle Eastern organised crime gang may be responsible for the brutal murder of a sheep grazier, amid growing fears that criminal networks are attempting to infiltrate the agricultural industry. The victim, 65-year-old Richard 'Willsy' Wills, was last seen leaving his home in Ouyen, approximately 450 kilometres north-west of Melbourne near the South Australian border, on Easter Sunday.
Horrific Details of the Crime
Victorian detectives believe Mr Wills endured a horrific ordeal before being fatally shot, including being dragged behind a vehicle. His body was subsequently discovered buried in a shallow grave. On Wednesday, terrified local farmers renewed their urgent pleas for assistance from authorities to track down the killers of the beloved grandfather and father-of-five.
Victorian farmer Kevin Butler has described the deadly sheep rustling incident as the 'Bondi massacre in the bush'. He posted on social media, stating, 'If this shocking death happened at Bondi, it would be plastered everywhere with the same passion police had in finding [cop-killer] Dezi Freeman - no matter the cost and with every resource called in. But not for this farmer, who could have been you or me. We’ve heard NOTHING since from police. The silence here is hardly golden - it smacks of unconscionable indifference and incompetence.'
Suspected Organised Crime Involvement
Mr Butler has been warning farmers across Victoria about suspected Middle Eastern crime gangs targeting lambs since last year. He reiterated on Wednesday, 'There is a multi-million dollar Merino-theft mafia of Middle Eastern appearance operating in Central and Northern Victoria. And the same Richard Wills Ouyen farmer - who had his sheep stolen just weeks before - is found dead from horrific injuries. Imagine being dragged behind a 4WD and a fatal gunshot wound.'
Detectives revealed on Saturday that they are investigating whether links to livestock theft in the region were a contributing factor in Mr Wills' murder. It is understood that, shortly before his death, Mr Wills had reported some of his sheep had been stolen. Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas confirmed, 'It’s an avenue of enquiry for us and the Missing Persons Squad remains open to all possibilities.'
Pattern of Livestock Theft
Identikit images, based on witness descriptions of three men suspected of being involved in alleged sheep thefts in the region, have been shared online by farmers. These men are believed to have been caught in the act on the morning of May 21 last year at Strathlea, north of Ballarat, while stealing sheep. Mr Butler reported that those offenders stole 80 merino sheep worth approximately $12,000 from his farm.
Detective Senior Constable Daniel Barker indicated that police suspect a 'network of offenders' made repeat trips to the property, possibly over several days. He stated, 'These farmers are doing it hard enough as it is with the drought … let alone having people coming onto their property and stealing livestock. These offenders are targeting paddocks, travelling on back roads under the cover of darkness sometimes.'
This was not the first time Mr Butler's farm had been targeted. He has implemented security cameras and fitted GPS-tracking eartags that provide alerts when stock is moved during irregular hours. Mr Butler described the grim reality of sheep rustling, noting, 'Sheep are immediately slaughtered in the bush - often in a truck with the offal and entrails tossed amongst the trees and were once seen tossed into a creek. Merinos are the sheep of choice as they are easily exhausted by chasing them down in paddocks then caught when they collapse, and thrown into enclosed vehicles. They endure sickening and horrific deaths - bled out while conscious and held down to flail around, kicking their legs, taking about two minutes to die.'
Community Outpouring and Investigation
Drones have also been reported buzzing over farms in suspected reconnaissance missions by the thieves. Mr Butler speculated, 'We believe there is a possibility that Richard Wills of Ouyen caught the crims in the act of sheep stealing on his farm and confronted them.' He drew parallels to an incident in Strathlea last May when a local woman attempted to block in the thieves but was threatened by a man wielding a steel pipe.
The horrific death of Mr Wills has triggered an outpouring of grief throughout the local area. A GoFundMe campaign quickly raised almost $10,000 for the Wills family in the days following the public revelation of his savage murder.
Mr Wills had gone to work at his rural property on the Mallee Highway around 8am as usual, after his daily farewell kiss for his wife of 32 years, Donna. When he failed to return for lunch, family members scoured the 650-hectare share-cropping and livestock farm without success. Mrs Wills reported him missing when he still had not returned the following morning. His body was discovered by police around 1.30pm the next day, fatally shot and left in a shallow grave.
Mrs Wills choked back tears as she recounted the last time she saw her beloved husband alive. 'He just kissed me goodbye, and I imagined I would see him at lunchtime,' she said. 'Five kids, lots of grandkids that are gonna miss him ... If he needed a tyre, he'd help them. If he needed fuel, he'd help them. He was one to help anyone - kind-hearted, give you anything.'
Police expressed shock at the brutality of the crime. Detectives believe Mr Wills was likely killed by someone he knew. Detective Senior Sergeant Trewavas appealed to the public, stating, 'We're hoping that this appeal leads to someone coming forward and doing the right thing, it can be done anonymously, so that we can hold those responsible to account.'
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
