Manhunt Intensifies for Alleged Triple Murderer in NSW Outback
A major police operation has entered its third day as officers continue their search for Julian Ingram, the man accused of murdering three people in Lake Cargelligo, approximately 600 kilometres west of Sydney. Special operations group police officers descended upon a remote rural station on Saturday morning, intensifying their efforts to locate the 37-year-old fugitive.
Police Convoy Descends on Remote Property
A substantial convoy of police vehicles was observed entering a private property north-west of Lake Cargelligo in the state's central west. The convoy included a heavily armoured Bearcat vehicle containing tactical officers, multiple SUVs transporting detectives, and two medical response units. At the entrance to the sprawling property, bullet casings were visible on the public side of the gate. The padlock securing the gate had been cut open and subsequently resecured with a zip-tie, indicating recent police activity.
Alleged Crimes and Victims
Ingram is accused of a horrific shooting spree that occurred on Thursday afternoon. He allegedly gunned down his heavily pregnant ex-partner, Sophie Quinn, 25, who was in a black Suzuki hatchback alongside her new boyfriend, John Harris, 32. Ms Quinn, who had separated from Ingram last year, was due to give birth to a baby boy in March. Ingram then allegedly proceeded to another residence where he is accused of killing Sophie's aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50, and seriously injuring Nerida's 19-year-old neighbour, Kaleb MacQueen. Mr MacQueen remains the sole survivor of the alleged attacks.
Local Knowledge and Survival Skills
During a press conference on Saturday morning, police acknowledged that Ingram – a longtime gardener for the local council and an experienced pig-hunter – possesses significant bushcraft skills. Authorities believe he could potentially survive in the harsh outback environment despite blistering temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius currently affecting western New South Wales.
The custodian of the rural station visited by police shared startling revelations with media outlets. The source, who lives in another town but knows Ingram well, stated that the accused worked as a brush-cutter in the area for many years alongside his father, harvesting bush for fencing. 'He is very familiar with those parts,' the source explained. 'There are brush-cutter camps out there, with food in the camps, and he would be aware of that.'
The property custodian also noted that the padlock had been 'interfered with,' though he was not initially aware that police had accessed the property. He added that pig shooters frequently cut locks to access properties during long weekends, suggesting this could explain the tampering. Despite this local knowledge, the source speculated that Ingram 'could also have shot himself or be halfway to South Australia by now.'
Expanding Search and Community Concerns
Approximately one hundred police officers are currently involved in the search operation across the surrounding areas. On Saturday evening, police activity remained concentrated north-west of Lake Cargelligo, with uniformed officers wearing gun-vests and plainclothes detectives observed speeding along rutted, red-dust roads near the Round Hill Nature Reserve. A PolAir helicopter was also seen conducting search patterns in the same area before shifting its attention to the skies above Euabalong West.
New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland confirmed that authorities are widening their search area based on information supplied to police. 'We attended two premises in Euabalong last night and unfortunately, were unable to locate the offender,' he told reporters. Assistant Commissioner Holland also acknowledged that police have not ruled out the possibility that Ingram may be receiving assistance to remain on the run. 'That's one of the avenues of our investigation,' he stated. 'As we said before, Mr Ingram has worked in the area for a long time. He was known to a lot of people in the area, and he's well known among the community.'
Vehicle Description and Public Warning
Ingram is described as being between 165 and 170 centimetres tall with a medium build, short dark hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with New South Wales registration DM-07-GZ. The vehicle features council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility side markings, and an emergency light bar on the roof. Police have released photographs of this vehicle but have not ruled out the possibility that Ingram may have since switched vehicles. Authorities are urging anyone who sees Ingram not to approach him and to contact triple zero immediately.
Previous Court Appearances and Bail Conditions
Court records reveal that Ingram appeared at Lake Cargelligo Local Court on December 3rd over allegations he stalked, intimidated, and assaulted Sophie Quinn while also damaging her property. He pleaded not guilty to these charges and was granted bail with conditions requiring him to report daily to Lake Cargelligo Police Station and not go within 100 metres of Ms Quinn's home or workplace. Records also indicate that Ingram was a known domestic violence offender, having pleaded guilty in 2021 to assaulting another woman in Griffith.
When questioned about the bail decision during a press conference on Friday, Assistant Commissioner Holland explained that a risk assessment would have been conducted at the time. 'At that time, he had not committed a violent offence in the last five years and, therefore, deemed fit,' he said. 'Where we can, we obviously grant people bail. We don't want to keep them in custody. With strict bail conditions and AVO in place, it's deemed suitable.'
Community Impact and Survivor's Account
The grandmother of Kaleb MacQueen, the sole survivor of the alleged shooting, revealed in an exclusive interview that her grandson was innocently caught in the crossfire while working on a vehicle across the road with Ms Quinn's son. She described how the 19-year-old ran for his life after being shot in the wrist, immediately calling her to say, 'Grandma, I've been shot!' Ms Little alleged that Ingram was armed with a shotgun and that her grandson had described seeing blue shell casings at the scene.
Fears continue to grip the local community that Ingram, allegedly armed and considered very dangerous, may return. 'I've been sleeping with all my windows closed,' Ms Little admitted, reflecting the anxiety permeating the town. Meanwhile, Cathy Quin, the mother of Sophie and sister of Nerida, commented on social media regarding reports that young men appeared to be taking items from Ingram's home, stating simply, 'They can take whatever they want.'
Assistant Commissioner Holland praised the local community for their assistance with ongoing police investigations, describing their cooperation as 'fantastic.' He confirmed that police have 'multiple lines of inquiry coming through' as the intensive manhunt continues across the challenging outback terrain.
