Police have launched a five-day search of Mount Buffalo National Park near Porepunkah, Victoria, with a focus on recovering the body of fugitive Dezi Freeman. Detective Inspector Adam Tilley stated on Monday that authorities 'strongly' believe Freeman is not alive, based on evidence including a single gunshot heard shortly after he fled.
Freeman is suspected of fatally shooting two police officers—Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart—on 26 August. A third officer was also wounded. Freeman was at home with his family when police arrived to serve a warrant for alleged historical sexual offences.
Approximately 15 minutes after the shootings, Freeman fled into bushland. Less than two hours later, a member of the public reported hearing a single gunshot, which police later corroborated. This led investigators to believe Freeman may have died by suicide or misadventure.
The search involves over 100 police and volunteers, drones, and cadaver dogs, covering more than 1.3 square kilometres of rugged terrain. Tilley described the area as 'extremely challenging' with thick, dense bush. Previous searches in December yielded no results.
Police are exploring three scenarios: Freeman died near Mount Buffalo, escaped and is being harboured, or escaped and survived without help. The first scenario is supported by the gunshot report. Taskforce Summit, formed in October, has investigated thousands of pieces of intelligence.
A $1 million reward—the largest in Victoria's history for facilitating an arrest—has been offered for information leading to Freeman's capture. The public is advised not to approach him, as he is considered armed and dangerous.
