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

[SLouTh]

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

It's quite a good read.... If anyone you know, is tossing out the Weekend Australian, I think the story is in the Magazine section ....just in case someone is trying to get their hands on the full article.....

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Breakthrough in missing campers case

Police set to reveal information publicly for ‘first time’ about missing Wonnangatta campers.


Police claim someone tried to “cover their tracks” in the disappearance of missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

In a sneak peak of a 60 Minutes story set to air on Sunday, Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper says he will reveal a piece of information publicly “for the first time”.


A new piece of information is set to be released publicly for the first time in the search for missing Victorian campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

I hope it will lead to a breakthrough, prompts someone's memory. The perp/s have covered their tracks, they either know the area well or just lucky the chosen hidden disposal spot hasn't been located yet.
I thought way back in this investigation, RH & CC were abducted under threat of a perp/s with a firearm, it's easier then taking dead bodies a long distance or contaminating a vehicle, I still hold to that view. jmo

 

[Detective Willy]

The "Under Investigation" series that has been on 60 Minutes and hosted by Liz Hayes has been disappointing. Hopefully this is not a "misleading" headline to get ratings and there will be something substantial here. I have felt very underwhelmed after watching some of these Under Investigation shows before - the commentators have just had a general chit chat for 1 hour about things already known and no conclusions are drawn. Lets hope it is worth our time to watch.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I agree.

I thought way back in this investigation, RH & CC were abducted under threat of a perp/s with a firearm, it's easier then taking dead bodies a long distance or contaminating a vehicle, I still hold to that view. jmo

 

[Jasonb84]

The most likely possibility is that Russell Hill and Carol Clay were the victims of rogue illegal hunters who shot them accidentally and then covered up. Thats my theory.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

The most likely possibility is that Russell Hill and Carol Clay were the victims of rogue illegal hunters who shot them accidentally and then covered up. Thats my theory.

that's a good theory, but could they shoot 2 people accidentally? Or, are you suggesting the second death along with their disposal was the cover up? One accidental, one murder?

If they were shot from a distance wouldn't the shooters be using a rifle scope to identify the target? Illegal hunters would have state of the art equipment, imo, as any hunter would have.

If they were shot close range, wouldn't RH & CC's clothes be a dead giveaway they were human beings, or their voices?

 

[PingTheRouter]

that's a good theory, but could they shoot 2 people accidentally?

being most of these guys hunt with more than one person, maybe they mistook the heat signatures as animals and two people took shots and ended up killing them both

when they drove over to look at their kill and realised they had killed people instead

because from everything iv seen about that place the people who hunt there are not expecting to see people down there, only animals

so hmm it could be true

 

[PrimeSuspect]

being most of these guys hunt with more than one person, maybe they mistook the heat signatures as animals and two people took shots and ended up killing them both

when they drove over to look at their kill and realised they had killed people instead

because from everything iv seen about that place the people who hunt there are not expecting to see people down there, only animals

so hmm it could be true

this theory would only work imo, if they were shooting at night. It'd be near impossible to shoot deer at night because you'd need a spotlight. Is there any suggestions of what else they could be hunting besides deer? Shooting kangaroo is allowed.
Also, RH & CC wouldn't wander around at night, so they'd have to have been shot near or at their campsite, and that wouldn't be accidental.
I could imagine RH had an argument with an illegal shooter after flying his drone and spotted them during the day, and he and CC were murdered later that night when their guard was down and no witnesses about.
Could've been someone known to them too, imo.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Adding more to this discussion about shooters, the recommended distance to shoot deer is under 100 metres, that's pretty close, they're not snipers.

The best time to shoot deer is early morning or late afternoon. RH & CC were known not to go far, certainly not both entering the wooded area.

RH & CC were in their 70s, they had the day to explore, fly the drone, not tripping around in the dark for what reason? And a good lot of the area where they camped, was cleared. Even a stray bullet hitting one of them at the camp, would leave a blood trail.
Imo, 2 accidental shootings just isn't on the cards.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Some people who go shooting, shoot at all kinds of things, anything that moves. Or set up targets.

Many don't have permits. Around here there are regular cases of groups of shooters going on to private property, without the owners knowledge. The ones that get caught are usually from Sydney.

Heaps of them have their vehicles set up with a huge number of spotlights. Often they get away, leaving the results of their nights outing, all kinds of dead animals including farm animals.
It's a regular thing here to hear the shots at night, but I've also heard them in the daytime.

So yes, shooting is high up on my list of what might have happened.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Some people who go shooting, shoot at all kinds of things, anything that moves. Or set up targets.

Many don't have permits. Around here there are regular cases of groups of shooters going on to private property, without the owners knowledge. The ones that get caught are usually from Sydney.

Heaps of them have their vehicles set up with a huge number of spotlights. Often they get away, leaving the results of their nights outing, all kinds of dead animals including farm animals.
It's a regular thing here to hear the shots at night, but I've also heard them in the daytime.

So yes, shooting is high up on my list of what might have happened.

But 2 accidental shootings? RH & CC walk apart, and not at night. It's not impossible, and if they're caught and they're shooters, maybe, they'd try that defence, I find it hard to believe. When I lived down the mountain as a kid, we were on acreage and had unvited neighbours shooting down near the creek. I used to fear being shot, I just have never in my life heard about 2 adults accidentally shot to death.
Could be a first, I'll try and open my mind to it. Thanks Tootsie.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I'd say only one was an accident. The other to get rid of the witness.

I suppose I'm biased against people who like to hunt animals for "sport"

I find it very easy to believe. I think hunting attracts some people who don't follow the rules.

But 2 accidental shootings?

 

[PingTheRouter]

I'd say only one was an accident. The other to get rid of the witness.

i want to see what this special new information is on Sunday

i will be tuning in for sure as spotlight has already covered this case once before and did a good job

 

[Jasonb84]

that's a good theory, but could they shoot 2 people accidentally? Or, are you suggesting the second death along with their disposal was the cover up? One accidental, one murder?

If they were shot from a distance wouldn't the shooters be using a rifle scope to identify the target? Illegal hunters would have state of the art equipment, imo, as any hunter would have.

If they were shot close range, wouldn't RH & CC's clothes be a dead giveaway they were human beings, or their voices?

Illegal deer hunting is very common in the area where they were camping, it’s very easy for an inexperienced hunter or hunters to accidentally shoot the couple thinking that they are a deer in the bushes. Once the Hunters realised what they have done they then go to their campsite and put the bodies in sleeping bags, set fire to the campsite. Then dump the bodies in the sleeping bags far away from the campsite for wild dogs to eat. It’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Illegal deer hunting is very common in the area where they were camping, it’s very easy for an inexperienced hunter or hunters to accidentally shoot the couple thinking that they are a deer in the bushes. Once the Hunters realised what they have done they then go to their campsite and put the bodies in sleeping bags, set fire to the campsite. Then dump the bodies in the sleeping bags far away from the campsite for wild dogs to eat. It’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.

I find it difficult to believe they'd accidentally shoot the both of them, and kill them outright. If you could find an instance where that's happened, I'd like to see it. I could imagine an injury and then, murder, otherwise it just doesn't seem plausible to me.

You're suggesting 2 people with their scope on a rifle shot them in the open field in broad daylight? An elderly couple wouldn't be trapsing through the bush which is a distance away, in the darkness, especially CC, for them to be accidentally shot one by one. imo.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

I'd say only one was an accident. The other to get rid of the witness.

I suppose I'm biased against people who like to hunt animals for "sport"

I find it very easy to believe. I think hunting attracts some people who don't follow the rules.

I agree Tootsie, with one being accidentally shot and the other murdered. I don't like blood sports either but it's a way of life for those on the land.

 

[PingTheRouter]

I find it difficult to believe they'd accidentally shoot the both of them, and kill them outright. If you could find an instance where that's happened, I'd like to see it. I could imagine an injury and then, murder, otherwise it just doesn't seem plausible to me.

You're suggesting 2 people with their scope on a rifle shot them in the open field in broad daylight? An elderly couple wouldn't be trapsing through the bush which is a distance away, in the darkness, especially CC, for them to be accidentally shot one by one. imo.

can't be daytime, if its daytime its not an accidental shooting ( at least 1 ) its an execution

when i read through all this and watch all the documentaries about it, i just seems like it was pitch black when this happened

i might be wrong but its how i envision the scene myself

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I'm open to all possibilities

 

[PrimeSuspect]

can't be daytime, if its daytime its not an accidental shooting ( at least 1 ) its an execution

when i read through all this and watch all the documentaries about it, i just seems like it was pitch black when this happened

i might be wrong but its how i envision the scene myself

I'm reading the latest and one guy was saying there's holes in each of our theories, which is true. I'm poking holes in a theory. My strong belief is a third party involvement which includes at least one murder, and the disposal. There's holes to be poked in that one too. Some believe murder/suicide.

This comment from Ashlin, RH's friend peaked my interest -

“Russell was a pretty protective sort of bloke,” says Ashlin, “and if somebody comes doing the wrong thing and ruffled feathers he would have challenged them.”

‘We don’t jump at ghosts here’: What happened in Wonnangatta Valley?