Drone found in search for missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay
A potential clue in the case of two Victorian campers missing for almost a year has been ruled out as being linked to the pair.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police say a drone found in Victoria’s high country does not belong to missing camper Russell Hill.
The Herald Sun revealed on Monday a drone had been located in the search zone where Mr Hill and his friend Carol Clay vanished in March last year.
Missing persons squad detectives have since been looking for the man’s drone, which was not recovered from their camp site in the Wonnangatta Valley. It remains missing.
A drone was handed in to police over the weekend, two weeks short of the one-year anniversary of the duo’s disappearance.
“Missing persons squad detectives have determined that a drone handed in to an East Gippsland police station is not the DJI Mavic drone belonging to Russell Hill,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
“Despite this, investigators will continue to analyse the drone to determine its origins.
“Investigators continue to appeal for anyone with information regarding a white dual cab ute that was seen in the area where Russell and Carol were camping to come forward.”
The disappointing result comes as a blow after the initial discovery shaped as a potential breakthrough in the major investigation.
Days ago, investigators made public their search for an unknown white dual-cab ute seen near Mr Hill and Ms Clay’s campsite around the time they disappeared.
It’s the only car that visited the area on March 20, 2020 that has not been identified and could be a major clue in solving the case.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper of the missing persons squad appealed for the occupants, or those with knowledge about them, to come forward.
“It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carol’s disappearance but we can’t afford to leave any stone unturned,” he said.
“We cannot leave any ‘what ifs’ when it comes to an investigation like this.”
Mr Hill and Ms Clay, aged 74 and 73, left for their camping trip on March 19.
They spent their first night at Howitt High Plains before driving to the Wonnangatta Valley.
On arrival, Mr Hill, an amateur radio enthusiast, contacted a mate to say he had made it and was doing well.
Hours after this radio call, he and Ms Clay vanished without a trace.
Panic began to set in after their campsite and Mr Hill’s Toyota 4WD was found scorched by fire.
Investigators believe the pair met with foul play and their bodies were taken from the bush.
Several major bushland searches have failed to find any sign of them but police are determined to solve the case.
Join the conversation
Top law firm Slater & Gordon rocked by explosive all-staff email
An all-staff email laced with “disparaging remarks” about employees purportedly sent by an outgoing HR boss has wreaked havoc at the firm, leaking confidential salaries and performance.
Read more
Devastated family hits out at hospital after new mum’s death
The shattered family of an “incredible” new mum who took her own life in Mitcham Private after she was allegedly abandoned by nursing staff say they are sick of the hospital’s “deflection and blame” and want system-wide change.
Read more