Family Suspects Ambush in Brutal Murder of Victorian Farmer
The family of a farmer murdered in rural Victoria fear he may have been ambushed by assassins who lay in wait for him. Police are intensively hunting the killers of Richard 'Willsy' Wills, who was last seen leaving his home in Ouyen, approximately 450 kilometres north-west of Melbourne near the South Australian border, on Easter Sunday.
Horrific Ordeal Before Fatal Shooting
Victorian detectives believe the 65-year-old suffered a horrendous ordeal before being fatally shot. Evidence suggests he was dragged behind a vehicle and subsequently buried in a shallow grave. Mr Wills’ son-in-law, Ben Phillips, now theorises that the shooter waited for the farmer to arrive at his farmhouse on the Mallee Highway property.
"He always used to pull up his ute there, and he’d be working on something," Mr Phillips told the Herald Sun. "We wonder whether someone’s murdered him there, waiting in ambush - and he’s turned up and they’ve shot him."
Contradicting Local Theories of Sheep Rustling
This ambush theory directly contradicts the narrative pushed by some local farmers, who suspect sheep rustlers are behind the killing. Victorian farmer Kevin Butler recently described the deadly sheep rustling incidents as the ‘Bondi massacre in the bush’. However, Mr Wills’ wife, Donna, stated it was "highly unlikely" the murder was connected to the so-called ‘Merino Mafia’, allegedly responsible for stealing hundreds of sheep and cattle in the Mallee region.
"It’s nothing to do with that at all," she emphasised to the newspaper.
Fake News and AI-Generated Speculation Complicate Case
The tragic case has been exploited by fake news sites globally, with some using artificial intelligence to manufacture false and offensive reports designed to appear legitimate. This includes the fabricated release of CCTV footage depicting two supposed suspects. Mrs Wills condemned the online speculation, including AI-generated content linking her to her husband’s death, as absurd.
"None of us have done anything to him, this is somebody else," she asserted. Mr Phillips concurred, noting that Mr Wills’ stolen livestock was unlikely to have contributed to his death.
Police Investigation Ongoing with No Arrests
Victoria Police confirmed on Friday that no arrests have been made and the investigation remains active. A spokesman clarified, "We have not released any CCTV. Any official updates will be posted via official channels, and we’d encourage members of the community to check those." This statement directly dismisses the fake news reports claiming to have captured CCTV images of the suspected killers.
Background of Livestock Theft and Community Shock
The murder follows repeated complaints from farmers in the Clunes region, about 300 kilometres from Ouyen, regarding organised crime gangs stealing sheep over the past year. Last week, Victorian detectives indicated they were investigating potential links to livestock theft in the area. It is understood that, shortly before his death, Mr Wills had reported the theft of some of his sheep.
Mr Phillips described the sheep rustling theory as "a very out there, wild theory", adding, "There’s a lot of higher lines of enquiry with the detectives." He expressed the family's desire for justice, stating, "There’s absolutely no justification for what happened, we want the full truth. It’s one thing to lose a loved one, it’s another thing for someone to have taken his life and still be at large."
Personal Tributes and Call for Public Assistance
The death has profoundly shocked the family, friends, and wider community. In a heartfelt Facebook post shared with Stock & Land, Mr Phillips paid tribute to his father-in-law, recalling his selfless nature and deep love for his family, including his wife of 32 years, Donna, and his daughters.
"You always spoke of your wife with such kindness - never a bad word, only admiration and respect," he wrote. "It said everything about the love you had for her."
Mr Wills had gone to work at his rural property on the Mallee Highway around 8 a.m. as usual, after his daily farewell kiss for Donna. When he did not return for lunch, family members searched the 650-hectare share-cropping and livestock farm without success. Mrs Wills reported him missing the following morning, and his body was discovered by police about 1:30 p.m. the next day.
Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas of the Victoria Police's Missing Persons Squad confirmed Mr Wills had met with "foul play", describing it as a "vicious" and "callous" killing. He urged anyone with information to come forward, noting, "Somebody will know. On Easter Sunday morning, someone will know someone who was doing the wrong thing or (acting) suspiciously."
A GoFundMe campaign established to support the Wills family has already raised close to $12,000. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
