Found Deceased Australia - Russell Hill, 74, & Carol Clay, 72, Wonnangatta Valley, 20 March 2020 #3

[JLZ]

New twist in case of missing lovers Carol Clay and Russell Hill | Daily Mail Online
New free article here

Cadaver dogs, which specialise in locating human remains, were sent to the region over the past few days but failed to find any trace of the pair.

From the new article, and with reference to recent discussion with other members:

This is where and when I think the hundreds of people would have been:

Detectives want to speak to anyone who was in the area of Howitt Plains and Zeka Spur Track on March 19 or 20, and the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between March 20-24.

And this is where Russell camped the previous week:

Detectives have established Mr Hill was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between March 11 and 13.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Search for missing campers Carol Clay and Russell Hill resumes

Police used cadavar dogs for the second time and have released drone footage of the area.

Police today said they had confirmed Mr Hill was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between March 11-13.
Police are keen to speak to anyone who was in that area on those dates.



Drone Footage of the search. 54 seconds. Shows what a vast rugged area it is.

Police have renewed their search for missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay

 

[Via Marple]

From VIC police

Police and cadaver dogs continue search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay

Anyone who sights Russell or Carol is urged to contact triple zero (000) immediately.

Really?

 

[spiritseeker31]

From VIC police

Police and cadaver dogs continue search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay

Anyone who sights Russell or Carol is urged to contact triple zero (000) immediately.

Really?

Informative, step by step article but I had to read it 3 times to understand.
I thought the authorities believed the couple deceased but now they're saying to call if spotted??

 

[JLZ]

Informative, step by step article but I had to read it 3 times to understand.
I thought the authorities believed the couple deceased but now they're saying to call if spotted??

If they charge someone with murder, a reasonable defence (since the bodies can't be found) will be that the pair could still be alive. Usually there are a few people who come forward years later and say yes they're certain they saw the missing person post-disappearance. By then it's hard to disprove. But ask them to come forward now, then if they don't but they do later, it's easier to show that they're not to be believed.

 

[Satchie]

If they charge someone with murder, a reasonable defence (since the bodies can't be found) will be that the pair could still be alive. Usually there are a few people who come forward years later and say yes they're certain they saw the missing person post-disappearance. By then it's hard to disprove. But ask them to come forward now, then if they don't but they do later, it's easier to show that they're not to be believed.

Also, IMO, a widely-publicized search and public appeal is the necessary process to be able to declare someone dead, whether to charge murder, or for the sake of the families who need to settle estates, etc.

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

I can't help but think it was a friend/s or family member/s, as is so often seen, but even then wow it's a long way to go and several hours of really rough roads to re-think how seriously you wanted them bumped off. And if they did it in the one day, in and out as quickly as possible (still a very big day), surely someone would notice that person/s absence is a bit suspicious given the timing and fact they're a friend/family! Plenty of potential motive floating around within the family/friend groups to lead to that though.

You can get intermittent phone service both on the Cynthia Track and the Zeka Spur track, enough to send and receive texts in places so that would ping off somewhere. So you'd have to think their phones didn't make it out in one piece?

It does intrigue me that Lake Tali Karng is relatively close, and having listened to a Jaidyn Leski podcast lately it makes me wonder. Although I gather you can't drive in and it would be a pretty big hike carting a body or 2 and as you get back down closer to Licola there are way more people camping etc to see you anyway. As soon as you get back up to Howitt Plains rd there's a noticeable increase in people. Although that's my experience this year post covid, perhaps pre covid it wasn't the case.

My best guess is that it's someone close to RH who didn't like what he was putting the wife through/had put her through for the last however many years since it came out that RH/CC were going to leave their husband/wife to be together (20years ago or whenever it was). How they pulled it off though... no idea.

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

And, as for people suggesting he can't have been that good up the bush if he had to ask Robbie Ashlin how to get to Dargo from Won, or thinking that question implied something... I don't reckon. Each time we met a vehicle and stopped to chat, the primary topic of discussion was which way are you going/what's road like, is that the way you'd go, have you been that way before, comparing different routes etc. In some ways it would suggest he's being safer by asking for that info before he does end up lost (oh the irony). Perhaps also he was miquoted - perhaps RH meant WHICH way would RA would go to get to Dargo rather than how to get to Dargo. As remote as it is, there's plenty of options how to get in and out.

 

[Puzzles]

From Australia's 60 Minutes:

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

From Vic pol: Police continue search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay in the Hotham area

Wednesday, 14 April 2021 05:01
Police have moved their search to the Mount Hotham area as part of the ongoing investigation into missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

Missing Person Squad detectives and Search and Rescue officers will be on the Great Alpine Road in Mount Hotham from around 9am.

Detectives are acting on information uncovered during the course of the investigation that has led them to this area and is believed to be of interest to the investigation.

Members of police Search and Rescue were joined by NSW Cadaver dogs in Wonnangatta Valley on 4 April, searching for the missing campers who have not been seen since March 2020.

Police believe Russell left his Drouin home on 19 March, collected Carol from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota Landcruiser, then travelled via Licola spending one night at Howitt High Plains before heading into Wonnangatta Valley on 20 March.

Russell was last heard from on 20 March via HF radio stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alps when he made the call.

Campers found Russell’s vehicle with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely destroyed by fire, near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on 21 March.

Missing Persons Squad detectives, with the assistance of specialist police, have conducted numerous searches in and around the Wonnangatta Valley over the last 12 months, however Russell and Carrol have not been located.

Investigators are continuing to appeal to anyone who was in the Wonnangatta area around that time, including campers, 4x4 day trippers, hunters, fishermen or trail bike riders, regardless of whether they saw or heard anything.

Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Howitt Plains and Zeka Spur Track on 19 or 20 March, and the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between 20-24 March who has not yet made contact with police is urged to come forward.

Detectives have also established that Russell was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of the King Billy and Bluff Track between 11-13 March.

Police are keen to speak to anyone in that area on those dates.

Information was later received about sighting of an older person or pair in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on 22-23 March, however have never been able to establish if this was the missing campers.

Detectives call for anyone in this area, any older couple who may be these persons, to also come forward.

Anyone who sights Russell or Carol is urged to contact triple zero (000) immediately.

Anyone with any other information regarding their disappearance or who has any CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Media Unit

87926

 

[bearbear]

Search for missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay moves to Mount Hotham
9News - Latest news and headlines from Australia and the world

 

[bearbear]

headlines are calling the new search a major breakthrough, information uncovered during their investigation, wonder what it is?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

This is a current ABC news article. Dated today.

Police shift search for campers missing in Victoria's High Country

One of the key points is that is says:

Last month, police received what they called an "item of interest", but would not reveal what that was.

Detectives now say their focus has shifted to Mount Hotham, where members of the Missing Person Squad and Search and Rescue officers will scour today.

 

[Sher Lock]

Wasn't the drone found a month ago?? Could this be the 'item of interest' they received?

 

[Kemug]

IIRC, the drone was found to not be Russell's? But I am quite excited about this Mt Hotham search - it is about 70km away from the Wonnangatta Valley, not walking distance for most people in their 70's. Maybe the mysterious white ute was spotted there?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

The ABC article is current, not an updated one and it seems to be saying that an item was received by Police last month.

It is strange though, that none of the other news are mentioning it, unless they think it refers to the earlier drone which turned out not to be Russell's.
Maybe it's the ABC article that has got it wrong.

I've read all of the latest news and only the ABC has anything about a seemingly new item handed in.

Wasn't the drone found a month ago?? Could this be the 'item of interest' they received?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

It's not very likely that you could find your drone by driving after it through rugged bushland and for such a long distance.
Some news are saying Mt Hotham is 100km from their campsite.

And then how come the vehicle is back at the camp. Unless Russell and Carol had some other transport like a motor bike or whatever.

Went off on the bike looking for the drone, had an accident on Mt Hotham.

No one else has been reported missing, that could have given them a lift somewhere, and they're all over a ledge somewhere waitng to be discovered...or not.

But then there is still the setting fire of the campsite.

IIRC, the drone was found to not be Russell's? But I am quite excited about this Mt Hotham search - it is about 70km away from the Wonnangatta Valley, not walking distance for most people in their 70's. Maybe the mysterious white ute was spotted there?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Oh I see my mistake. In my mind the drone that was handed in was months ago, when it was really only early March so that does make it last month. Somehow it seems much longer ago than that.

My apologies, it's not something new that was handed in..

I wonder what the new information is.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Maybe someone saw Russell or Carol at Mt Hotham ?

Or a white vehicle with someone unloading what seemed to be "sleeping bags"

 

[BabyKB]

Hi all! First time poster long time follower of this forum and the case.

News.com.au is reporting that a shovel was found at Mount Hotham