Victoria Police have confirmed their latest operation in Mount Buffalo National Park was focused on locating the body of fugitive and alleged police killer Dezi Freeman, who vanished after the fatal shooting of two officers in Porepunkah on August 26.
Freeman, 56, fled into dense bushland armed with firearms and has not been seen since, despite a $1 million reward and extensive search operations.
Last week’s five-day search spanned heavy terrain, involving search and rescue teams, CIRT, drones, dog units, and NSW cadaver dogs.
Police say the shift toward searching for remains is based on “new intelligence”, following earlier efforts aimed at finding an active armed offender.
Since the shooting, authorities have assessed nearly 2,000 intelligence leads. Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said police remain committed to resolving the case and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, warning the public not to approach Freeman if spotted.
