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

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  • #321
Has anyone seen a pic of the 2nd shovel, or are they both white? Ive only seen pics of a white one, curious what the second one is., or if they're the same.

These pics are the best I can get at the moment. Shovels and an evidence bag.

The shovels do look identical ... at least from the handles and shafts.

xx1.JPG xx2.JPG

xx3.JPG xx4.JPG

NoCookies | The Australian
Shovels taken into evidence in search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay
 
  • #322
I looked closer at this vid, you can see one already in the car when he puts the second one in. If that is the second shovel they both look the same. Is that odd? Why would you have 2 identical shovels on you? Surely they didn't go buy 2 shovels for the occasion.

Shovels taken into evidence in search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay
because theyre the same it makes it seem more likely they were bought together for a planned "job" for 2 people, so premeditated?
 
  • #323
because theyre the same it makes it seem more likely they were bought together for a planned "job" for 2 people, so premeditated?

Or bought quickly after the fact, as in Samuel Thompson's murder. In which case (or in either case) store receipts/purchases/CCTV might be able to be obtained. IF these shovels are related to Russell and Carol's disappearance. (Remembering how the handed-in drone wasn't.)
 
  • #324
because theyre the same it makes it seem more likely they were bought together for a planned "job" for 2 people, so premeditated?

OR they were owned by a tradie? A tradie might buy shovels in bulk.

In saying that though, I have gardening tools I really like so I went and bought seconds before they stopped stocking them?
I can't imagine there's that many places to buy shovels between Won and Hotham is there? I mean if you came back to Bairnsdale you have a wide selection but surely you wouldn't take that much of a detour. And where were the bodies while that was potentially happening? You might get some in Omeo or Heyfield if you managed to get there in shop hours I suppose.

If it was premeditated they could get them in the way into Won but surely thats not someones first choice of digging shovel.
 
  • #325
OR they were owned by a tradie? A tradie might buy shovels in bulk.

In saying that though, I have gardening tools I really like so I went and bought seconds before they stopped stocking them?
I can't imagine there's that many places to buy shovels between Won and Hotham is there? I mean if you came back to Bairnsdale you have a wide selection but surely you wouldn't take that much of a detour. And where were the bodies while that was potentially happening? You might get some in Omeo or Heyfield if you managed to get there in shop hours I suppose.

If it was premeditated they could get them in the way into Won but surely thats not someones first choice of digging shovel.
so, if its not a good type of shovel for digging could mean the person wasnt familiar with tools?
 
  • #326
i wonder if the handed in drone had any footage of the area?
 
  • #327
so, if its not a good type of shovel for digging could mean the person wasnt familiar with tools?

Or if they were purchased in a small country location that might have been all they had left ... with them not usually carrying a big stock.

I don't suppose Russell would have carried a couple of shovels in his vehicle.
He likely would have had one shovel for burying waste. I wonder if it was still in his vehicle when police officers searched it.
 
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  • #328
  • #329
  • #330
Perhaps trying to rattle someone ?
Definitely, why else would they release the footage of them finding shovels. And it came with a news release of a case breakthrough! Obviously trying to get someone to talk while they listen in. Seems obvious but I hope it works.
 
  • #331
The square blade of the shovel is more effective for digging a vehicle out of snow, than for digging in soil. Back in the day, we carried such shovels when skiing at Buller or Hotham.

The two that LE have retrieved may not have anything to do with this case. It's a bit unfathomable that any murderer would dispose of shovels by casually leaving them in the bush, rather than at least burying them.

If those shovels are connected with the disappearance of Carol and Russell, perhaps they were ditched in a moment of panic, for example, if the white ute was indeed the getaway vehicle, when public appeals for information about it were made, IMO, the occupant/s of it would have been seriously alarmed.

It still appears to be very careless disposal of potential evidence, especially if it was done by the same person/s who killed Russell and Carol, and took the time and effort to burn their campsite in an effort to conceal evidence.

Something that puzzles me particularly is the appearance that someone rifled through Russell's vehicle, and left cards from his wallet strewn on the seat, then locked the door of it.

When was this done? It's difficult to imagine it taking place whilst Russell and Carol were alive or conscious, unless they were restrained in some way.
Or were they asleep in their tent, woke up, and challenged the vehicle's intruder/s, which ended in their murders?

It's likewise difficult to imagine after killing two people, heaving their bodies to anywhere at all, a perp. would dally at the murder scene to search a victim's vehicle for what? Credit cards, whose usage can be traced?
 
  • #332
There’s a Bunnings at Wangaratta hours away (134km) and they sell this shovel (link below) which looks similar. There may be a closer Bunnings that I can’t see.
I’ve used this shovel before for general easy garden work and they’re not easy to dig even a small hole with! Hence why they’re $11. And maybe the reason why there were two shovels located 100km away from the campsite due to needing softer ground in MOO or deemed useless and disposed of. Or a location completely off track on their return to wherever they were headed after bunnings, purposely no where near the camp site to dispose of their bodies in the hope never to be found.
Also Bunnings is open until 9pm on a Thursday night in Wangaratta (the day they disappeared) or 7am the next morning.

Spear & Jackson White Square Mouth Shovel
 
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  • #333
The flat point, shorter length shovel, seems like a miserable tool to dig a hole with. IMO
 
  • #334
Odd to see a shoe in the vehicle where evidence is being placed in photos included in this link.

I imagine it isn't considered evidence, as it's not bagged, but then it's also surprising to me – who knows nothing at all about preservation of the integrity of possible evidence – to see the handle of the shovel isn't bagged either, so perhaps the shoe is thought to be potentially useful?

Shovels taken into evidence in search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay
 
  • #335
Odd to see a shoe in the vehicle where evidence is being placed in photos included in this link.

I imagine it isn't considered evidence, as it's not bagged, but then it's also surprising to me – who knows nothing at all about preservation of the integrity of possible evidence – to see the handle of the shovel isn't bagged either, so perhaps the shoe is thought to be potentially useful?

Shovels taken into evidence in search for Russell Hill and Carol Clay
https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2Ffs%2Fe1aa9cb9-65e1-4278-a7db-9dcc69b0cfe4

On this picture when already in the car, the shovel handle is bagged too. Why the shoe isn’t bagged is a mystery to me too, although it might be a children’s size so not deemed important. Strange, non the less.
 
  • #336
There’s a Bunnings at Wangaratta hours away (134km) and they sell this shovel (link below) which looks similar. There may be a closer Bunnings that I can’t see.
I’ve used this shovel before for general easy garden work and they’re not easy to dig even a small hole with! Hence why they’re $11. And maybe the reason why there were two shovels located 100km away from the campsite due to needing softer ground in MOO or deemed useless and disposed of. Or a location completely off track on their return to wherever they were headed after bunnings, purposely no where near the camp site to dispose of their bodies in the hope never to be found.
Also Bunnings is open until 9pm on a Thursday night in Wangaratta (the day they disappeared) or 7am the next morning.

Spear & Jackson White Square Mouth Shovel
At least Bunnings thinks it can be used for digging...

This Square Mouth Shovel is a great all round shovel and is suitable for shovelling soils, sand and mixing concrete.​
 
  • #337
At least Bunnings thinks it can be used for digging...

This Square Mouth Shovel is a great all round shovel and is suitable for shovelling soils, sand and mixing concrete.​

Nah I think shovelling soil and sand means loose soil. Like if you had a pile of loose soil and wanted to move it. Or if you've swept the shed and have a pile of debris they're alright to scoop that up and out of the way.
 
  • #338
Channel 7 Sunrise reports the shovels were found within hours of receiving the new information, 200 klms from the campsite in a place they believe has never been walked by humans, it is that remote.

That is a far fetched statement (pardon the pun) imo.
 
  • #339
Channel 7 Sunrise reports the shovels were found within hours of receiving the new information, 200 klms from the campsite in a place they believe has never been walked by humans, it is that remote.

That is a far fetched statement (pardon the pun) imo.
 
  • #340
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