Australia - Richards Wills (65), Missing since Easter, found dead and buried in his own property, Ouyen (VIC), April 2026

[Lisbeth_S]

"Mr Wills was last seen leaving his home in Hughs Street, Ouyen, at about 8am on Sunday, April 5." - apparently this was usual for him

"After he failed to return home for lunch, family members searched the property for him. He was reported missing the following day.

His body was found in a shallow grave on the property at about 1:30pm on Tuesday."

"A ute and a phone belonging to Mr Wills were found at the property, and officers from the Victoria Police forensic team searched the scene."

Police appeal for information about mysterious shooting death of Richard Wills at Ouyen

"A police search for Wills ended about 1.30pm on Tuesday when Wills’ was found with a fatal gunshot wound in a shallow grave."

Missing man Richard Wills discovered shot dead and buried on his farm in Victoria’s Ouyen


Map below for non-Australians. Ouyen is very rural and very small (like 1km across type village)

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[LadyL]

thanks for the maps!
looks like the population is just over 1 k
there are probably rumours in that town right now
I wonder if the family has any idea who the suspect might be

 

[Lisbeth_S]

thanks for the maps!
looks like the population is just over 1 k
there are probably rumours in that town right now
I wonder if the family has any idea who the suspect might be

Agree.

I would guess the list of suspects should be fairly short in this one.
My gut takes me to a neighbour/property dispute (or whatever), but seems strange that they took the time to bury him.
Would be interesting to know what evidence they have found on the property and with the body.


"Investigators say the 65-year-old went to work on his farm, a large rural property about eight kilometres away along the Mallee Highway, as was his usual routine."

Missing farmer found shot dead, buried in shallow grave on his farm

I have put a map below of Richards home in Hugh st (re dot) and an 8km radius on both sides of his home along the Mallee Highway, which should estimate where his property would be. I have no idea in which direction his farm is though.

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[katydid23]

How many family members does he have? I wonder if someone wanted to speed up a possible inheritance?

 

[Lisbeth_S]

How many family members does he have? I wonder if someone wanted to speed up a possible inheritance?

This article mentions 2 daughters (of which one has passed away 10 yrs ago) and we know he was reported missing by his wife.

In the same article a map (below) that shows the location of his farm, ~8km east of his home, along the Mallee Highway.

 

[LadyL]

Agree.

I would guess the list of suspects should be fairly short in this one.
My gut takes me to a neighbour/property dispute (or whatever), but seems strange that they took the time to bury him.
Would be interesting to know what evidence they have found on the property and with the body.


"Investigators say the 65-year-old went to work on his farm, a large rural property about eight kilometres away along the Mallee Highway, as was his usual routine."

Missing farmer found shot dead, buried in shallow grave on his farm

I have put a map below of Richards home in Hugh st (re dot) and an 8km radius on both sides of his home along the Mallee Highway, which should estimate where his property would be. I have no idea in which direction his farm is though.

View attachment 658466

any idea what kind of farm it is?
vegetables? farmed animals?

 

[Lisbeth_S]

any idea what kind of farm it is?
vegetables? farmed animals?

According to this article:

"The 1600-acre sharecropping farm, with sheep and a piggery, and lots of machinery “which Ric spent his time tinkering with and repairing in an effort to sell,” Trewavas said."

Also from the same article, concerning details about the condition of the body.

"There is some evidence that Ric’s body has been dragged behind a vehicle on that farm.”

Not other details on the autopsy, other than that he was shot.

Turns out he has 5 childrena and many grandchildren.

 

[LadyL]

According to this article:

"The 1600-acre sharecropping farm, with sheep and a piggery, and lots of machinery “which Ric spent his time tinkering with and repairing in an effort to sell,” Trewavas said."

Also from the same article, concerning details about the condition of the body.

"There is some evidence that Ric’s body has been dragged behind a vehicle on that farm.”

Not other details on the autopsy, other than that he was shot.

Turns out he has 5 childrena and many grandchildren.

dragged behind a vehicle ... geez
how awful
someone was very, very angry at him

 

[TootsieFootsie]

9News

1.43 minute video

Grandfather found gunned down and buried on his own farm | 9 News Australia​

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Wife breaks down after husband killed in 'vicious' shooting in rural Victoria

www.9news.com.au

9News

Wife breaks down after kind-hearted husband killed in 'vicious' shooting in rural Victoria​

The wife of a Victorian man shot dead in a "vicious" attack is struggling to come to terms with who would want her husband dead.

 

[Melt71]

Chilling 'Merino Mafia' theory emerges​

.....Police are investigating whether the baffling murder of a sheep farmer is linked to a 'highly coordinated' crime network making millions from stealing livestock..........
.....This costs the state's farmers over $8million-a-year, yet farm crime remains one of the most underreported offences.....
.... Senior Sergeant Trewavas said it is suspected he knew the person who killed him.....

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15724215/Ouyen-Merino-Mafia-theory-Richard-Wills-dead.html

 

[Lisbeth_S]

Chilling 'Merino Mafia' theory emerges​

.....Police are investigating whether the baffling murder of a sheep farmer is linked to a 'highly coordinated' crime network making millions from stealing livestock..........
.....This costs the state's farmers over $8million-a-year, yet farm crime remains one of the most underreported offences.....
.... Senior Sergeant Trewavas said it is suspected he knew the person who killed him.....

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15724215/Ouyen-Merino-Mafia-theory-Richard-Wills-dead.html

LOL the merino mafia made me giggle...but I'm sure it's a real problem for farmers

 

[starlightstarbright]

Yes, my guess would be either a farm worker or he stumbled upon some sort of crime going on at his farm. It’s quite possible that someone foolishly assumed that because it was Easter, he wouldn’t be there at that time and got a surprise when he came upon them. MOO

 

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

NewsWire


As investigations continue, police have said they are “mindful” of theories suggesting the killing of the 65-year-old farmer had anything to do with reports of stolen livestock in the region.

It has been reported by numerous outlets that Mr Wills reported a number of sheep stolen from his property in Ouyen, Victoria, shortly before he was killed.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas from the Victoria Police Missing Persons Squad told reporters on Saturday that investigators were keeping their minds open.

“It is something that we are mindful of in relation to this investigation,” he said.

 

[Lisbeth_S]

Yes, my guess would be either a farm worker or he stumbled upon some sort of crime going on at his farm. It’s quite possible that someone foolishly assumed that because it was Easter, he wouldn’t be there at that time and got a surprise when he came upon them. MOO

Excellent point!