In a chilling twist that’s left Australia gripped, Victoria Police have dropped a devastating update in the hunt for Dezi Freeman – the self-proclaimed sovereign citizen accused of executing two brave officers in cold blood before vanishing into the wilderness.

After six agonising months of the largest manhunt in Victorian history, detectives have shifted gears dramatically: they’re no longer primarily searching for a live fugitive. Instead, the focus is squarely on recovering his body.

Yes, you read that right. Authorities “strongly believe” the 56-year-old gunman – real name Desmond Filby – is dead, possibly since the very day he allegedly opened fire on August 26, 2025.

The revelation comes amid renewed searches in the rugged, unforgiving terrain of Mount Buffalo National Park, where cadaver dogs, specialist teams, drones, and over 100 officers and volunteers have been combing dense bushland, caves, and remote gullies.

But despite the massive effort – and a staggering $1 million reward still on offer – not a single confirmed trace of Freeman has surfaced. No footprints, no discarded gear, no signs of life. Just silence in the high country.

The Day That Shattered Lives: The Fatal Ambush

It began as a routine – if tense – operation. Around 10:30am on that fateful Tuesday, a team of about 10 officers from Myrtleford station arrived at a remote property on Rayner Track, outside the tiny alpine town of Porepunkah in Victoria’s northeast.

They were there to execute a search warrant linked to historic allegations of sexual offences against Freeman. What unfolded next was pure horror.

Freeman – heavily armed, survival-trained, and allegedly harbouring deep-seated hatred for authority – opened fire without warning. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, a respected local veteran, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 35, a dedicated family man, were gunned down and killed instantly. A third officer was shot in the lower body, fighting for his life in hospital as the nation reeled.

In the chaos, Freeman allegedly grabbed the fallen officers’ weapons – powerful firearms – before fleeing on foot into the thick bushland surrounding Mount Buffalo National Park.

The area is no picnic: steep ravines, dense scrub, unpredictable weather, and venomous wildlife make it a natural fortress. Freeman, a bushcraft enthusiast with martial arts background, knew the terrain intimately – or so police feared.

From Manhunt to Body Recovery: The Dramatic Shift

For months, the operation – codenamed Taskforce Summit – treated Freeman as an active, armed threat. Tactical teams, helicopters, sniffer dogs, thermal imaging – nothing was spared. Over 2,000 pieces of public intelligence were chased down.

But by December 2025 – four months in – police quietly pivoted. After a targeted five-day search of less than one square kilometre of thick bush (an area previously swept on September 12 when he was assumed alive), the message changed.

Victoria Police spokesperson: “The area was previously searched on September 12 when police were looking for the active armed offender, but now search teams are focusing on identifying and locating evidence or the body of Freeman.”

Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien reaffirmed the commitment: “I want to reaffirm to the community that Victoria Police remains committed to doing everything we can – using every available resource and the necessary capabilities – to locate Desmond Freeman. We will continue to conduct targeted searches such as this one based on intelligence. We will maintain a presence in the community, and we are determined we will see this to resolution.”

By early 2026, the stance hardened. In February, a fresh five-day operation – again involving over 100 personnel, cadaver dogs from New South Wales, and specialists – zeroed in on intelligence about a single gunshot reportedly heard roughly 90 minutes to two hours after the initial killings.

Detective Inspector Adam Tilley laid it bare: “We are comfortable that we don’t believe he is here alive, however we are keeping an open mind. We do believe strongly that he is in this area deceased.”

Three scenarios dominate police thinking:

1. Freeman died by misadventure or self-harm shortly after fleeing (perhaps that gunshot was suicide).
2. He’s being harboured by associates in his anti-authority network.
3. He somehow escaped the area and is surviving alone – though this is seen as increasingly unlikely.

No evidence supports life post-August 26. No sightings, no digital footprint, no credible tips despite the million-dollar incentive.

The Sinister Backstory: Sovereign Citizen Extremism and a ‘Hit List’

Freeman wasn’t unknown to authorities. A vocal sovereign citizen, he rejected government legitimacy, called police “terrorist thugs” and “Gestapo,” and even tried bizarre legal stunts – attempting to “arrest” a magistrate and have Premier Daniel Andrews tried for treason.

Social media posts revealed chilling rhetoric: one Instagram account linked to him declared “the only good cop is a dead cop” back in 2023. He ranted about “exterminating” politicians and compiled sinister lists.

Police uncovered a personal “hit list” of perceived enemies – not just officers from Myrtleford station, but everyday locals, neighbours, and others with petty grudges. Addresses were noted, some kilometres away. He was tied to a 30-strong “Truth and Justice” network that harassed authorities by “naming and shaming.”

Neighbours described a reclusive, paranoid figure living in a converted bus, spying with drones, filming without consent, and issuing threats. One took out a personal safety order against him years ago.

Family fractured long ago. His eldest son Koah, 20, distanced himself publicly and believes his father is dead. Brother James “Jimmy” Filby posted in October 2025 theorising Freeman perished on Mount Buffalo.

Relatives and former neighbours blasted his hypocrisy: a disability pensioner raging against the system while cashing government cheques for decades.

The Human Toll: Heroes Remembered, Community Scarred

The fallen officers’ families endure unimaginable pain. Neal Thompson’s loved ones said prison would be “too good” for the killer – they want justice, closure.

Vadim de Waart-Hottart’s community mourns a young dad gone too soon.

Porepunkah – a peaceful rural haven – remains haunted. Locals whisper about fringe extremists in the hills, but most just want the nightmare to end.

Police vow the search won’t stop. The taskforce persists, following every lead.

Six Months On: Questions That Haunt

Is Freeman really dead – claimed by the bush, exposure, injury, or his own hand? Or is someone hiding him, protected by loyalty to the cause?

Did that distant gunshot seal his fate? Why no body, no weapons, no trace in such intensive sweeps?

The $1 million reward stands – for arrest, location, or now, perhaps, confirmation of death.

As Mount Buffalo’s peaks loom silent, one thing is certain: two families lost heroes forever. A nation demands answers.

Police say they’re focused on recovery. But until a body – or irrefutable proof – emerges, the ghost of Dezi Freeman lingers.

The hunt continues. The heartbreak endures.