Found Deceased Australia - Russell Hill, 74, & Carol Clay, 72, Wonnangatta Valley, 20 Mar 2020 #4 *ARREST*

[TootsieFootsie]

‘Violent act’: New theory on missing campers

Police believe third party committed ‘violent act’ in disappearance of Victorian campers Russell Hill, Carol Clay

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper on Wednesday said the “strongest theory” investigators had was that there was third party intervention.

“There were other people involved,” he told 3AW radio.

“That was, in the likelihood, a violent act and there’s been a concealment of Russell and Carol after that violent act.”

Inspector Stamper believed the bodies of Mr Hill and Ms Clay remain within the 1.6 million square hectares of the Wonnangatta Valley.

“My belief is they are still in that broad area,” he said.

 

[nao]

Moo... that is 2 human body's to be disposed of. Any cliffs or ravines near by? I hike alot very rarely do i find an animal skeleton..well actually never..just bits and pieces.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

A huge area, 1.6 million square hectares

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I wonder if LE has been checking up on anyone they know to have been in the area, espcially to see if they go back, to check that, I don't like to say it, but that the remains of Russell and Carol are still hidden.

 

[everybodhi]

‘Violent act’: New theory on missing campers

Police believe third party committed ‘violent act’ in disappearance of Victorian campers Russell Hill, Carol Clay

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper on Wednesday said the “strongest theory” investigators had was that there was third party intervention.

“There were other people involved,” he told 3AW radio.

“That was, in the likelihood, a violent act and there’s been a concealment of Russell and Carol after that violent act.”

Inspector Stamper believed the bodies of Mr Hill and Ms Clay remain within the 1.6 million square hectares of the Wonnangatta Valley.

“My belief is they are still in that broad area,” he said.

The burning of their camp, (probably to destroy DNA evidence) has always pointed to a violent act by a third party. jmo
If it was a murder/suicide, it seems unlikely the murderer would burn the camp before disappearing into the bush with their companion to do the deed. What would be the point of that?

 

[Kemug]

I know that I am just too cynical, but isn't this about the 3rd time that we've heard that LE are about to crack this case?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

I know that I am just too cynical, but isn't this about the 3rd time that we've heard that LE are about to crack this case?

I feel the same, maybe, third time's a charm.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Maybe rattling the cage and waiting for a reaction from someone.

 

[Trackergd]

At this point, short of a detailed ground search, I would probably try a multi-pass grid overflight by a small fixed wing STOL plane or fixed wing drone with precision LiDar to see if any ground disturbances show up, followed by a fixed wing drone with a high resolution camera. Fixed wing drones give you an extended loiter time (up to 20 hours) over the search area. Using the data, a search manager could then mark areas of high probability to target first for the ground search operation. If you ask really nice, sometimes the military will do this as a "training" exercise to keep their drone and fixed wing pilots up to snuff. If none of those assets are available, I would try small fixed wing aircraft with observers to cover the area as much as possible looking for bits of clothing or areas of disturbance.

One think to keep in mind is that actors are not going to schlep a 100+ lb. body over their shoulder for miles through thick undergrowth. They are going to use a game trail or footpath, and if using an ATV, a trail wide enough to allow passage. If they do not have a shovel and mattock, the grave will be a shallow one and most likely will have animal activity from carrion eaters.

Time and distance are the limiting factors for where the remains were deposited from the PLS. On foot, not very far. ATV, doubt more than 30 min travel off an established trail. UTE, who knows....

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Missing Vic campers' families beg for info - Shepparton News

The disappearance of two campers who went missing in Victoria's rugged high country 19 months ago is still confounding police and their families.

For the first time, the families of Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, have spoken together about the uncertainty surrounding what happened to their loved

 

[Detectivediva]

The burning of their camp, (probably to destroy DNA evidence) has always pointed to a violent act by a third party. jmo
If it was a murder/suicide, it seems unlikely the murderer would burn the camp before disappearing into the bush with their companion to do the deed. What would be the point of that?

Possibly to protect reputation? To have one's family to not believe that sometime might murder their lover and then themself? Just my opinion.

 

[Starscope]

I’ll be extremely shocked if it turns out to be a murder suicide.

Likewise.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

There's a longish story in the Weekend Australian today.

It's behind a paywall. One thing that stands out to me so far (I'm still reading it) is that it's said that the white 4WD seen parked near the toilets has been identified and the people in it ruled out.

 

[SouthAussie]

In this article that Tootsie is referencing ^^^ DI Stamper makes these points about Russell.

(paraphrased)

- Russell had been a logger and a grader
- Russell's knowledge of the area was probably better than anyone's, because he had been central in creating the tracks that go in there
- As well (and likely due to the above imo) Russell knew the type of people that go into that area better than anyone
- Russell's campsite was always 'pristine', plus he never went too far away from it - he knew a car might drive past and someone might get into the tent and take their belongings

NoCookies | The Australian

The reason I mention the grader, is because I hadn't realised that Russell actually helped create the tracks throughout the area, I thought he was mostly involved in the logging. He would have spent good chunks of time there, in the past, building the tracks.

 

[SouthAussie]

Something else ... did we know that the two shovels have been ruled out? They have been tested and are thought to have no part in this. It mentions that in the article.
They describe them as snowshovels.

NoCookies | The Australian

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I think I did read that they were, or it may just have been that everything from that search was ruled out ?

Can't quite remember what, except that I believed that the shovels had been ruled out.

Something else ... did we know that the two shovels have been ruled out?

 

[Catmommy]

Absolutely anything is still possible. And I still want a relatively happy ending.

 

[JLZ]

I think I did read that they were, or it may just have been that everything from that search was ruled out ?

Can't quite remember what, except that I believed that the shovels had been ruled out.

I read it a few weeks ago for the first time.

 

[Kemug]

Absolutely anything is still possible. And I still want a relatively happy ending.

I hope you're right, but I fear it won't happen.

 

[Kemug]

Thanks to Tootsie and South Aussie for that new information, although it probably won't get us anywhere. Still, it does help build a picture.