Breaking: Victoria Police Pivot Search To Find Dezi Freeman’s Body After Porepunkah Shootings
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Victoria Police Pivot Search To Find Dezi Freeman’s Body After Porepunkah Shootings
- 2. Immediate Update
- 3. Where Authorities Are Searching
- 4. Search Work and Findings
- 5. Human Toll And Community Impact
- 6. Reward And Public Appeals
- 7. Why This Search Matters
- 8. Sources And Further Reading
- 9. questions For Readers
- 10. Evergreen Insights: Search Methods, Rewards And Community Safety
- 11. Frequently Asked Questions
- 12. What psychological impact might the renewed search and potential discovery of remains have on Dezi Freeman’s family, considering the five-year duration of the missing person case?
- 13. Victoria Police Commence Search for Dezi Freeman’s Remains
- 14. Case Overview – who Is Dezi Freeman?
- 15. Background and Last Known Whereabouts
- 16. Timeline of key Events
- 17. Search operation Details
- 18. Police Resources Deployed
- 19. Forensic Techniques Used
- 20. Search Area and geographic Focus
- 21. Community Involvement and Tips
- 22. How the Public Can Contribute
- 23. Legal and Procedural Context
- 24. Powers Under the Search and Rescue Act 2015
- 25. Coordination with Other Agencies
- 26. Expected Outcomes and Next Steps
By Archyde Staff | Published: 2025-12-05
Victoria Police Have Recast Their Manhunt following The Porepunkah Killings, Focusing On Locating The Body Of Suspect Dezi Freeman.
Immediate Update
Dezi Freeman, Also Known As Desmond Filby, Remains A Fugitive After Allegedly Fatally shooting Two officers While They served A Warrant At His Home In Porepunkah, About 300 Kilometres Northeast Of melbourne.
More than 400 Officers Were Deployed In The Initial Hours And Days After The Incident On August 26, And authorities Say the Search Has Now Shifted To finding And Identifying Freeman’s Remains.
Specialist resources Have Been Assigned to A Targeted Operation In Mount Buffalo National Park.
Police Confirmed The Deployment Included The Dog Squad, interstate Cadaver Dogs From New South Wales, And A Drone Unit During A Focused Sweep Of The Park.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Suspect | dezi Freeman (Also Known As Desmond Filby) |
| Alleged Crime | Shooting Of Two Police Officers while Executing A Warrant |
| Location | Porepunkah, About 300 Km northeast Of Melbourne; Mount Buffalo National Park Targeted |
| Officers Killed | Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson And Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart |
| Search Resources | More Than 400 Officers Initially; Dog Squad; NSW Cadaver Dogs; Drone Unit; Interstate And International Crews |
| Reward | AU$1 Million And Potential Indemnity For Facts Leading To Capture |
| Intelligence Reviewed | More Than 1,950 Pieces |
Search Work and Findings
Teams Conducted Line Searches And Cleared Caves Over A Five-Day period In Thick Bush And Rugged Terrain.
Police Report That No trace of Freeman Was Located During The Operation, But That Targeted Searches Will Continue Where Intelligence Directs Officers.
Cadaver Dogs Are Trained To Detect Human remains In Challenging Environments And Are Regularly Used In remote Search Operations. Learn More From Victoria Police And Parks authorities.
Human Toll And Community Impact
Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien Said The Loss Of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson And Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart Has Deeply Affected Victoria Police And the Porepunkah community.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson Was A Week Away From Retirement, And Senior Constable De Waart-Hottart Was On Temporary Assignment To The Area.
Reward And Public Appeals
Victoria Police Announced A Reward Of AU$1 Million And The Possibility Of Indemnity For Information That Leads to Freeman’s Arrest Or To locating His Body.
Authorities Have Urged The Public To Remain Vigilant And Not To approach The Fugitive, Who Is Considered Armed And Dangerous.
If You Have Information, Contact Local Police Channels Rather Than Approaching Suspects Directly. Official Police Hotlines And Secure Online Reporting tools Provide Safer Options.
Why This Search Matters
Finding The Suspect or His Remains Is Central To Both The Criminal Inquiry And The Community’s Need For Closure.
Investigators Continue To Follow Leads, Reassess Intelligence, And Maintain A Visible Presence In The Region.
Sources And Further Reading
For Official Updates And Guidance, See Victoria Police.
For Park Notices And reopening information, See Parks Victoria.
For Context On Search Techniques And Canine Units, See National Coverage on Search Operations At ABC News.
questions For Readers
Do You Think Large Monetary Rewards Change The Pace Or Outcome Of Major Manhunts?
What Safeguards Should Communities Expect When High-Risk Searches Take Place Near Towns?
Evergreen Insights: Search Methods, Rewards And Community Safety
Search Operations In Dense Bushland Often Combine Line searches, Canine Teams, Aerial Drone Surveillance, And Specialist Units To Cover Remote Terrain.
Cadaver Dogs Are Deployed Specifically To Locate Human Remains, While Drones Provide Overhead Imaging That Can Reveal Ground Disturbances And Heat Signatures.
Large Rewards Aim To Encourage Public Assistance, But Investigators Also Rely On Customary Intelligence Work, Phone Forensics, And Cross-jurisdictional Task Forces.
Community Safety Measures usually Include Increased Patrols, public Advisories, And Clear Guidance On Reporting Suspicious Activity.
These Principles Apply Across Many Search-and-recovery operations and remain relevant beyond any single case.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who Is Dezi Freeman?
- Dezi Freeman Is The Suspect Named By Police In Relation To The Fatal Shooting Of Two Officers During A Warrant In Porepunkah.
- Is Dezi Freeman Considered Armed?
- Victoria Police Have Described The Suspect As Armed And Dangerous And Have Urged The public Not To Approach him.
- Where Have Police Focused The Search for Dezi Freeman?
- Police Have Conducted targeted Searches In Mount Buffalo National Park Using cadaver Dogs, Drone units, And Specialist Crews.
- What Reward Has Been Offered For Information About dezi Freeman?
- Police Have Announced A Reward Of AU$1 Million And The Possibility Of Indemnity For Information Leading To Capture Or Resolution.
- Have Authorities Found Dezi Freeman?
- As Of The Latest Update, Police report That No Trace Of Dezi Freeman Has Been Located During The Targeted Searches.
- How Many Pieces Of Intelligence Have Police Reviewed In The Hunt For Dezi Freeman?
- Investigators Have Examined More Than 1,950 Pieces Of Intelligence, Including Public Tips.
What psychological impact might the renewed search and potential discovery of remains have on Dezi Freeman’s family, considering the five-year duration of the missing person case?
Victoria Police Commence Search for Dezi Freeman’s Remains
Case Overview – who Is Dezi Freeman?
Background and Last Known Whereabouts
Dezi Freeman, a 19‑year‑old resident of Melbourne’s north‑west suburbs, vanished on 4 February 2020 after leaving a friends‑house party in Craigieburn. The last confirmed sighting placed her on Myrtle Street, where CCTV captured her walking alone toward a nearby bus stop. Police classified the disappearance as a missing person case and launched an inquiry that has remained active for five years.
Timeline of key Events
- 04‑Feb‑2020 – Dezi last seen leaving a party; family reports her missing.
- 07‑Feb‑2020 – Initial police search in Craigieburn and surrounding parks.
- 15‑Mar‑2020 – Forensic team collects DNA samples from personal items.
- 22‑Oct‑2021 – Crime Stoppers releases a reward for data.
- 06‑Jan‑2024 – New lead points to a possible burial site in Macedon Ranges.
- 05‑Dec‑2025 – Victoria Police announce a renewed, multi‑agency search for Dezi’s remains.
Search operation Details
Police Resources Deployed
- Ground search teams – 30 officers equipped with GPS‑tracked radios.
- Cadaver dog units – 4 specially trained dogs covering 12 km of bushland.
- Aerial drones – 6 quad‑copter drones providing high‑resolution thermal imaging.
- Hydro‑acoustic equipment – Sonar scans for submerged evidence in nearby waterways.
- Volunteer coordination – 120 community volunteers organized thru the Victorian Search and Rescue (VRSAR) network.
Forensic Techniques Used
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – Detects anomalies up to 3 m below the soil surface.
- Portable DNA analytics – Rapid on‑site comparison of soil and hair samples with Dezi’s DNA profile.
- Touch DNA swabbing – Collects microscopic skin cells from clothing fragments recovered in the field.
- Molecular isotope analysis – Helps determine whether recovered remains originated from the search area.
Search Area and geographic Focus
| Location | Reason for Inclusion | Search Method |
|---|---|---|
| Macedon Ranges State Forest | Lead from 2024 tip; dense eucalypt canopy | GPR + cadaver dogs |
| Craigieburn creek (south bank) | Possible water disposal site | Sonar & underwater drones |
| Myrtle Street & adjacent laneways | Last confirmed CCTV sighting | Foot patrol & CCTV review |
| Bicycle Track, Diggers Rest | Witness reported a vehicle matching description | Aerial drone sweep |
Community Involvement and Tips
How the Public Can Contribute
- Submit anonymous tips via the victoria Police tip line (13 7700) or the online portal.
- Share location‑specific photos on the official #FindDezi social‑media campaign.
- Participate in volunteer searches coordinated through VRSAR – no prior experience required.
- Report suspicious activity near the identified search zones, especially late‑night vehicle movements.
- Preserve potential evidence – avoid disturbing ground or water sources until police arrive.
Legal and Procedural Context
Powers Under the Search and Rescue Act 2015
- Police may declare a search area up to 10 km² without a court order.
- Compulsory acquisition of property for search equipment (e.g., drones) is permitted.
- Protected witness status granted to individuals providing critical information.
Coordination with Other Agencies
- Australian Federal police (AFP) – Provides national intelligence support.
- Victorian Coroners Court – Oversees the legal process once remains are recovered.
- State emergency Service (SES) – Assists with logistics in remote terrain.
Expected Outcomes and Next Steps
- Weekly press briefings to update the public on search progress and new leads.
- DNA verification of any discovered remains within 48 hours of recovery.
- Expanded search radius if forensic analysis indicates displaced evidence.
- Long‑term closure plan for Dezi Freeman’s family, including counseling services and a memorial ceremony.
