Police resume search for long missing Victorian campers again

Victoria Police are desperately searching again for a pair of missing campers after abruptly suspending their quest.

Police searching for Russell Hill and Carol Clay in the Hotham area recently found two shovels in steep terrain. Picture: Jason Edwards

A search for two campers in their 70s who went missing more than a year ago in Victoria’s high country has resumed after it was abruptly suspended less than two weeks ago.

Missing person squad detectives and specialist police are once again trying to find Russell Hill and Carol Clay in Wonnangatta – located in Victoria‘s far northeast on Monday – after they discovered two shovels at Mount Hotham on April 14.

Victoria Police previously said they would not continue their search for the missing pair until forensic investigations into the shovels were complete, but yesterday said “detectives continue to examine items located during a search of the Mount Hotham area on 14 April to determine if they have any relevance to the investigation”.

Carol Clay, above, and Russell Hill have been missing in the Wonnongatta Valley area in Victoria since March 20 last year.

The disappearance of Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, has baffled police since they were reported missing on March 20 last year.

Missing persons squad detective Tony Combridge recently revealed police believed the duo could have been met with foul play, and said they believed “someone else” was likely involved in their disappearance.

The search for Mr Hill and Ms Clay had shifted from the Wonnangatta area to Mount Hotham a few weeks ago after police received a “significant” piece of information. The two locations are separated by a 70km stretch of road.

“As a result of information obtained from previous searches, investigators will now focus their efforts on Wonnangatta, in particular along the Dargo High Plains Road, Cynthia Range Track, Herne Spur Track and the Wonnangatta Track,” Victoria Police said in a statement on Monday.

The search team has also expanded with missing persons squad detectives being assisted by the air wing, drone unit search and rescue and parks Victoria now conducting “detailed” searches of roads, tracks, campgrounds, rivers and cliffs in the area.

Missing person squad detectives and search and rescue officers have searched near the Great Alpine Road in Mount Hotham. Picture: Jason Edwards

Detective Combridge previously conceded police may never find their bodies, but believed they were getting closer to finding out what happened to Mr Hill and Ms Clay.

“I’m not really expecting to find anything [bodies] but I’m hopeful that we will find some answers for the families,” he said.

“These are particularly challenging circumstances and it is an incredibly remote area. There are parts of that bush that probably have never been walked on by humans.”

Detectives believe Mr Hill picked up Ms Clay from her home in Pakenham in a Toyota Land Cruiser on March 19 last year.

His car was later found with “minor fire damage” at the pair’s campsite, which police said “was completely destroyed by fire” in the Wonnangatta Valley on March 21.