Bombshell revelations about Dezi cop killings
Bombshell new details have emerged of the moment Dezi Freeman escaped and the tragic final moments of two police officers he shot dead.
Bombshell new details have emerged of the moment Dezi Freeman escaped and the tragic final moments of two police officers he shot dead.
The Australian has reported an eyewitness account allegedly recorded by Freeman’s middle child that revealed how it all went down on the Freeman’s family’s Hino bus on August 26.
Follow “We have a search warrant,’’ an officer shouts, referring to an alleged child sex offence.
“Can you please not barge in? I have a kid, please,” Freeman’s wife, Amalia – or “Mali” – pleads as cops tell Freeman, 56, to come out.
The recording shows they used a crowbar to try to force their way in as Freeman yells at police to stop.
Three family members, including a young child, are trapped in the bus as the shouting ensues for close to 30 minutes.
In a final act, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, throws his body, feet-first, into the upper part of the door.
He is shot dead along with his colleague Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35.
Freeman also points a homemade shotgun at a fourth officer, but the weapon misfires.
His family scatter after a third officer is hit. They are shaken up but ultimately make it to Porepunkah after being picked up near the orchard.
The third officer cowers, wounded, under the bus, as the remaining seven police scan the scene.
Freeman escapes carrying a police handgun, and possibly two other weapons including a makeshift shotgun.
‘Apocalypse’: Shock river, accomplice theory
It has been more than two months since Freeman escaped. His whereabouts remain a mystery, but some chilling theories have emerged amid the ongoing manhunt.
The self-described sovereign citizen fled on foot and armed towards Mount Buffalo National Park after gunning down the cops.
A huge police operation, still ongoing, which had involved close to 500 officers from multiple units at one point, as well as a $1 million reward, has failed to locate him.
Freeman’s friend, Thomas Moritz, met him when he worked as a volunteer on Moritz’s Rose River property about 30 years ago.
Mr Moritz told The Australian Freeman delved into conspiracy theories around 2013, when Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott were changing jobs — but the pandemic made things much worse.
“He was preparing for the apocalypse,’’ Mr Moritz said.
Investigators are stumped with Freeman’s whereabouts after searching large areas of the national park, including in tight caves and rugged, unforgiving terrain.
One theory that has emerged is that he made it to Buckland River, some 200 metres from his isolated property, and from there he hiked upstream or swam downstream.
The second is he navigated through dense scrub for many kilometres, following the back country trails, to escape police, sniffer dogs and thermal-imaging detection.
Freeman is said to have extensive knowledge of the Porepunkah and surrounding area having spent many hours outdoors.
He could have made his way to Sinclair’s Waterhole, near Porepunkah airfield, a popular tourist – and somewhat isolated – spot that his family frequented.
There are also some residential houses near the river where he could steal supplies to improve his chances of survival in the wild.
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Dr David Craig, a retired federal detective superintendent, earlier this month said locals have to be vigilant and keep an eye out for anything that went missing.
He told news.com.au that Freeman would get desperate and emerge for supplies.
“He’ll need some sort of resourcing and that might be quite minor. It might just be some fuel … it could be for an underground generator. But predominantly food and water,” Dr Craig said.
“So if he knows certain neighbours are out or gone, then sneaking into a house and stealing resources is quite a valid tactic and not very noticeable.
“The locals need to notice the small stuff, anything small.”
One hiding spot could be the thousands of mines and caves dotted across the region.
Victoria Police released photos in mid September showing some 125 specialist police dressed in camouflage and heavily armed searching the vast landscape.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Russell Barrett at the time said cops had to be extra cautious given reports Freeman was likely armed with guns.
“It’s an extensive area, really difficult terrain,” he said at a press conference.
“We searched for hundreds of properties – with and without warrant – made our way through abandoned structures, we searched mine shafts, bays, huts, and the operations continue.”
Finally, the third hypothesis is that the fugitive sought out a neighbour or someone from the SovCit movement, utilising adjoining properties to completely flee the town.
One close friend believes Freeman floated down Buckland River towards Ovens River and was picked up by an accomplice at some stage.
“He’s gone, nowhere near here” the friend told The Australian.
“He’s got that many friends in Porepunkah and Bright,” another local said.
Police have not ruled out any theories at this stage.
Some 1600 tips and intelligence have been investigated, but none have proved strong enough to lead them to the father-of-two.
Large parts of Mount Buffalo have since reopened to the public this month after the national park was shut down for the major police operation.
“There are some areas of the park that will remain restricted and members of the public will be prohibited from accessing,” police said in a statement.
Investigators have so far spoken to more than 800 people, including several of Mr Freeman’s associates, and searched many properties.
“This work has however given Victoria Police the confidence that the park can now reopen, as we know how important it is for the local community,” police added.
They stressed the opening of the park does not signify the end of the search for Mr Freeman, and a strong police presence will still remain in the area.
A $1 million reward leading to the arrest of Freeman remains on offer.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
