Victorian detectives believe Australia’s most wanted man could be living in regional New South Wales
A BREAKTHROUGH in the hunt for Australia’s most wanted fugitive has police believing he could be hiding in a regional city with links to the Calabrian mafia.
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AUSTRALIA’S most wanted fugitive, cold-blooded killer Graham Gene Potter, could be hiding in regional New South Wales.
Detectives received information from Crime Stoppers that Potter — who has been on the run for seven years — may be living in the Griffith area earlier this year.
They have pleaded for that caller to phone again.
Police had previously received tips that Potter was seen at a local shop and gym in Griffith in July 2016 but they have since eliminated those sighting from their inquiries.
It is believed, however, he could be in that region and may be using his criminal links to help him stay under the radar.
Potter first came to public notoriety in 1981 after he brutally murdered Wollongong teenager Kim Barry, and then cut off her head and fingers.
Potter served 16 years of a life sentence in prison, using his time to connect with serious underworld figures.
Those would-be mafia targets (who cannot be named for legal reasons) had been part of a huge drug smuggling operation, but there was a belief that they were also police snitches.
Potter was also facing charges over that drug enterprise.
He was meant to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for conspiracy to murder charges in February 2010, but did not front court.
The now 59-year-old has been at large ever since, dodging police wherever he goes and dying his hair to avoid detection.
In August 2010, he was almost caught when the car he was in was pulled over in a routine intercept at Tully, in Queensland.
But he ran from the car and disappeared.
Queensland police searched the area and found his camping equipment.
In 2013 police searched the Riverina area on the border of Victoria and New South Wales after receiving information Potter may have been staying in the area.
Several unconfirmed sightings of Potter were reported in the vicinity of Tocumwal and Cobram.
The Calabrian mafia has strong ties to the Griffith area, and Victoria Police anti-gangs division detectives believe Potter knows the Griffith area well.
Police believe Potter could be using old contacts to help him stay off the radar.
But it was also possible he was using his ability to live off the land to avoid detection — or being unwittingly helped by kind locals.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter De Santo said, after earlier this year revealing credible information that Potter was in the Griffith area, a call was made to Crime Stoppers confirming the information was correct.
“We have now taken that information that was passed on to us as far we can take it,’’ Mr De Santo said.
“We are now appealing for the person who rang Crime Stoppers late March, early April 2017 to please recall and make contact.”
Mr De Santo said Potter, wanted for crimes including murder and conspiracy to traffic large commercial quantities of narcotics, was a master of disguise and blended into the community to avoid be caught.
“This man is dangerous,’’ he said.
“He has significant organised criminal connections.
“We suspect that he is in the community. We do suspect that he is still in and around the Griffith area.
“He is a master of disguise so he may have added weight, he may have added a beard, he may have taken off a beard, he may his head completely shaved.
“He has been on the run for a number of years now.
“He’s number one across the nation and we want him.”
Interstate authorities would help act on any information, Mr De Santo said.
A $100,000 reward is on offer for leading to the fugitive’s capture.
He is described as caucasian, 175cm tall, medium to solid build, fair complexion, brown eyes, brown greying hair and a ginger beard.
He is known to wear a gold sleeper earring in both ears, glasses and regularly wears a gold chain around his neck.
Potter often changes his appearance and has used a number of aliases including Josh Lawson, John Page, Jim Henderson and Peter Adams.
Anyone who sights the fugitive is advised not to approach him and to contact triple-0 (000). Anyone with any information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
Do you know more? Email: andrea.hamblin@news.com.au