Former local councillor named as suspect in double murder near Mildura
A REAL estate agent kidnapped by a double murder suspect in Mildura has been named, with the horror shooting rampage and kidnapping believed to have been sparked by a fierce family dispute over the sale of a large property.
VIC News
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A FIERCE family dispute over the sale of a large property is believed to have sparked an alleged horror shooting rampage and kidnapping which spanned across two states, leaving a mother and son dead and a country town in mourning.
Former Wentworth deputy mayor Paul Cohrs, 58, remains in a critical condition in the Alfred Hospital after shooting himself in the chest after he allegedly murdered his brother, Raymond, and mother Bette Schulz, 82, on Tuesday.
Police allege Cohrs arranged a meeting with his brother, 63, at the Rufus River Rd property before driving with experienced Mildura real estate agent Michael Fernandez to the isolated location.
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Once there, Cohrs allegedly tied up Mr Fernandez and shot dead his brother about 10am before driving 127km across the border to murder his elderly mother near Mildura before lunch.
It is believed a four year old boy was at the grandmother’s Red Cliffs home and spent some time with her body before the alarm was raised by an unknown person about 12.30pm.
It is unclear if the child witnessed the shooting but was rushed from the Snowy Ave home by local officers uninjured.
After allegedly killing his mother, Cohrs — a member of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia — drove back to Rufus where he untied Mr Fernandez before fleeing into bushland where police later found him with self-inflicted wounds about 3pm.
Landmark Harcourt agent Mr Fernandez was understood to be recovering at his home with family on Wednesday afternoon after being held captive for several hours at the isolated address.
The Cohrs family was well-known in the tight-knit Mildura community which is reeling from the shocking killings.
Friends said relations had been decaying inside the family for a decade, through legal battles, property and business disputes.
Police sources confirmed the alleged motive for the killings was financial.
“The whole family situation is a mess,” one local man said.
“I was told they were going to sell a property without him knowing.”
Paul was a keen recreational shooter and current president of the Mildura branch of the SSAA.
A joint strike force involving NSW and Victorian homicide detectives seized a number of firearms from the Rufus River Rd property but would not say if they had been used in the shooting or if the guns were legal.
Detective Superintendent Paul Smith said the “reach and impact (of the shootings) is going to be significant”.
Police have appealed for anyone who saw the white Toyota ute travelling between the Rufus River Rd property and Mildura, or who may have caught it on dashcam, to come forward.
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Inspector Kevin Coughlan said police received a phone call reporting the shooting from an unknown person about 12.30pm and are urging the caller to come forward.
“That’s part of what our homicide squad will be undertaking today, to identify that person,” Insp Coughlan said.
Forensic teams are also on site at the Rufus property, which is about 70km west of Wentworth, where Raymond Cohrs and the real estate agent were found.
Detective Superintendent Paul Smith said the real agent was held against his will at the property but has managed to call police to raise the alarm about 1.30pm.
“Obviously he’s traumatised,” Det Sup Smith said.
“Certainly he’s in need of some protection at this time as far as emotionally.”
Det Supt Paul Smith said detectives had seized a number of firearms from the Rufus property but would not say if they had been used in the shooting or if the guns were legal.
“It’s quite a large property, we’ve got three crime scenes active … they’re tens of kilometres apart,” he said.
The property is understood to be connected too all those involved.
Det Sup Smith said the impact of the shooting on the local community would be felt heavily.
“The reach and impact is going to be significant,” he said.
Mr Cohrs was a keen recreational shooter and current president of the Mildura branch of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia.
SSAA Victoria spokesman Justin Law said the whole organisation was “shocked and saddened”.
“We understand there is a family left behind and we’re very much thinking of those people. It was an unforeseen tragedy,” Mr Law said.
“He was always a committed member of the association and always wanted to do the best for the members there.
“I understand he was well-liked and respected.
“We don’t know what the circumstances were or what triggered this.”
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NEIGHBOURS of Ms Schulz said they were still trying to comprehend the “horrible” killing.
“She had lived alone for about 11 years,” one neighbour said.
“She kept to herself but would host knitting parties and was quite active in the community,” she said.
They have described Ms Schulz sas a “lovely old lady” and said they were in shock after hearing of the shooting.
Ms Schulz was also remembered as a “very valued member” of the Red Cliffs and District Historical society.
Several local residents said the woman lived alone at her Snowy Ave home, about 15km from Mildura, but was often visited by her grandchild.
Crime scene tape blocked off the suburban street for most of Tuesday afternoon as distraught family members, including two women and a young boy, sat cuddling each other on the nature strip outside the one-storey home.
“She was always nice and friendly … it’s just awful,” one neighbour said. “It’s very unsettling.”
Another Snowy Ave resident said they had spoken to the woman just hours before she was killed.
“We waved and said hello to her this morning,” the neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said. “She seemed in good spirits … I can’t believe this happened.”
Detectives were seen coming in and out of the home’s garage and two police cars remained park outside the home until late Tuesday afternoon.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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