Double Cop-Killer Dezi Freeman's Seven-Month Evasion of Police Linked to Survival Expertise and Potential Assistance
Dezi Freeman, a 56-year-old sovereign citizen, was shot dead by police at a rural property near Walwa in Victoria's north-east after 8:30 am on Monday, concluding an extensive seven-month manhunt. Freeman had fled into rugged bushland after killing two police officers and injuring a third during a raid on his remote Porepunkah property over historic sex crimes on August 26.
Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The violent incident resulted in the deaths of Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, at the scene, with a third officer sustaining serious injuries. Freeman was last seen armed with the deceased officers' firearms near his Rayner Track property, triggering the largest search operation in Victoria Police history.
Intensive Search Efforts in Extreme Conditions
Police deployed cadaver dogs and drones to scour more than 100 homes and properties across rocky terrain dotted with caves and mineshafts. The search area endured severe weather, including blizzards, hail, damaging winds, and bushfires, complicating efforts to locate the fugitive.
Survivalist Tactics and Possible External Help
Freeman, an expert survivalist, was ultimately discovered in a shipping container or caravan at a camp on Tholo Farm, which advertises 'Cookers welcome' on Google Maps. Professional bush tracker Jake Cassar suggested to Daily Mail that Freeman could have survived by foraging for dandelions, yams, and rabbits for nutrients, and by using natural resources to stay warm.
'If you have the right skills and supplies, you can live indefinitely in the wild,' Cassar explained. 'Essentially, if he had the skills to make fire from natural resources or from supplies he had stashed, that would have provided enough warmth to keep hypothermia away.'
He noted that caves might have been used to evade drones and surveillance aircraft, as well as to protect against exposure. During bushfires in the Walwa region, Freeman could have assessed fire directions to move safely away. Cassar also mentioned that Freeman might have trapped or shot wild rabbits, or even occasionally shot cows and cured the meat, with gunshots potentially going unnoticed in rural areas.
'Gunshots would normally give his location away, but you hear guns go off all the time in rural areas so he might have been doing that and no one noticed,' he said. Freeman could have cured meats using caves to conceal smoke and sourced water from tree roots, filtered river water, or by digging.
'It seems far-fetched, but people can make traps and they can survive with enough macro nutrients based around carbohydrates, protein, and multi-vitamins that can be found in the bush,' Cassar added. 'But there's a big difference between having some knowledge and getting help, and having significant knowledge and being able to sustain life indefinitely.' Freeman's physical condition upon capture might indicate the level of assistance he received.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigations
At a press conference on Monday, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that Freeman chose not to surrender peacefully despite being given the opportunity. 'We strongly believe, yet to be confirmed, that he was armed,' Bush said.
Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt commented, 'Today, we won't reflect on the loss of a coward. We will remember the courage and bravery of our fallen members and every officer who has doggedly pursued this outcome for the community.' He emphasized that Freeman's death represents a 'step forward' for police, the community, and the families of the slain officers, though it does not alleviate the trauma or grief.
'Days like today offer a sobering reminder that policing happens while you sleep, when the media spotlight on an investigation dims and when everything seems lost and forgotten,' Gatt said. 'RIP Vadim and Neal. Today, we remember you.'
Probe into Evasion and Complicity
Authorities are now investigating how Freeman managed to evade capture for such an extended period and whether others aided him. Commissioner Bush asserted, 'We are very keen to learn who, if any, but I'm sure some, assisted him. If anyone was complicit… they will be held to account.'
