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

[SouthAussie]

It has dawned on me that the glowing cookie cutter references of a ‘loving father’ or ‘doting grandfather’ etc etc whatever they might be are conspicuous in their absence from the media. I know it was mentioned by others previously, but at first I had thought maybe it was because they perhaps live their lives out of the spotlight and off social media and would be mortified to be thrown into and spoken about personally in the spotlight.

Again, just thinking out loud.

The thing that always stood out to us all is that there has never been any family appeals (from either family) for help to find Carol and Russell. No "please watch out for my dear father, we miss him so much" or "our mum is so valued and missed, please help us find her".

Everybody knows that Russell and Carol had a clandestine relationship by now, and it is 2021 (2020 when they disappeared). People are more accustomed to different relationships than they were 30 years ago.
Yet no family member has been able to face the public/media and ask for help from the public. Why is that?

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

Most likely a innocuous accident on the way . if the imagination carries on , it could be a kick of frustration, a kick of remorse. . Or left at home

How many things can be put down to an innocuous accident in one mystery? (Rhetorical question).
The mirror, the fire, the gone through wallet or cab or whatever it was, the sketchy radio signal, the trip by himself the week prior, the unaccounted for hours, how every device that can store photos is missing, etc etc. all
potentially completely unrelated. I think at this point I’m just really frustrated I don’t know it the story ends.

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

Most likely a innocuous accident on the way . if the imagination carries on , it could be a kick of frustration, a kick of remorse. . Or left at home

How many things can be put down to an innocuous accident in one mystery? (Rhetorical question).
The mirror, the fire, the gone through wallet or cab or whatever it was, the sketchy radio signal, the trip by himself the week prior, the unaccounted for hours, how every device that can store photos is missing, etc etc. all
potentially completely unrelated. I think at this point I’m just really frustrated I don’t know it the story ends.

 

[SouthAussie]

How many things can be put down to an innocuous accident in one mystery? (Rhetorical question).
The mirror, the fire, the gone through wallet or cab or whatever it was, the sketchy radio signal, the trip by himself the week prior, the unaccounted for hours, how every device that can store photos is missing, etc etc. all
potentially completely unrelated. I think at this point I’m just really frustrated I don’t know it the story ends.

Honestly, the side mirror could have been missing for ages. The police have never said "mobile phones, drone, and side mirror of vehicle are missing".
Typically, they like to say what is missing, in case it is found.

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

Yep, I think it’s odd, looking back. Is there another case you can think of the same?

The thing that comes to mind is that perhaps he was actually awful to his family and they’re relieved, but then they’d be the obvious suspects so then wouldn’t they say it to appear less suspect. Yet another thing that just doesn’t make sense. To clarify, I have no reason to think he wasn’t a ray of sunshine and don’t want it so sound like I’m suggesting anything otherwise of the poor bloke.

The thing that always stood out to us all is that there has never been any family appeals (from either family) for help to find Carol and Russell. No "please watch out for my dear father, we miss him so much" or "our mum is so valued and missed, please help us find her".

Everybody knows that Russell and Carol had a clandestine relationship by now, and it is 2021 (2020 when they disappeared). People are more accustomed to different relationships than they were 30 years ago.
Yet no family member has been able to face the public/media and ask for help from the public. Why is that?

p,

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

Honestly, the side mirror could have been missing for ages. The police have never said "mobile phones, drone, and side mirror of vehicle are missing".
Typically, they like to say what is missing, in case it is found.

Exactly. It might just be missing from its proper spot on the car, not missing missing.

 

[SouthAussie]

Yep, I think it’s odd, looking back. Is there another case you can think of the same?

The thing that comes to mind is that perhaps he was actually awful to his family and they’re relieved, but then they’d be the obvious suspects so then wouldn’t they say it to appear less suspect. Yet another thing that just doesn’t make sense. To clarify, I have no reason to think he wasn’t a ray of sunshine and don’t want it so sound like I’m suggesting anything otherwise of the poor bloke.

No, I can't think of another case where someone from the family has not appealed to the public. It is generally encouraged because the police know that it can elicit empathy and bring them tips.

And many families do much, much more than a public appeal. Missing persons posters, family searches, internet sites dedicated to finding their loved one .....

The only two people that I can think of who have spoken out in this case is one friend of Russells and one friend of Carols.

 

[Kemug]

And Carol also has children and grandchildren - where are their voices?

 

[SouthAussie]

And Carol also has children and grandchildren - where are there voices?

Absolutely ... neither family has spoken out. I find that very unusual. And I really feel for Carol and Russell that they have raised these children and loved them, and not one of them is publicly supporting the effort to find them.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I've met quite a few people who cling to the past when it comes to anything that might seem like bringing shame to the family.

And even in these days the "offenders" become shunned, even if they might be "tolerated" up to a point.
Their way, the families way of handling it even now is to clam up.

Not saying this is the case with Russell and Carol's family. Maybe they just want privacy and to let the police handle it.

 

[SouthAussie]

I've met quite a few people who cling to the past when it comes to anything that might seem like bringing shame to the family.

And even in these days the "offenders" become shunned, even if they might be "tolerated" up to a point.
Their way, the families way of handling it even now is to clam up.

Not saying this is the case with Russell and Carol's family. Maybe they just want privacy and to let the police handle it.

Yes, it is likely that privacy is the case. The police have always been reluctant to say that Russell and Carol were in a relationship, so there must be a reason for that. Even though Russell's friend has revealed all to the public.

But I think most of us agree that it is really unusual. Even killers (Borce Ristevski) make pleas for help to find their missing 'loved one' (even if they don't mean it, as Borce obviously didn't). It is generally encouraged by the police.

Even Gerard Baden Clay appealed for help to find the wife that he murdered, while people were looking at him and the extra-marital affair that he was having.

Maybe Russell and/or Carol's families have a few skeletons in the closet that they don't want to become public knowledge (besides Russell and Carol's relationship) if people know who they are.

 

[Marchalot]

Talking to my friend today about it who happened to be talking to they're friend last night about this case , they called it like the Bermuda triangle or something like that? Some well known mystery that it's got a few twists & turns ... Murder/ suicide? He knew the area. Things kept locked up. He doesn't want strangers touching his things or cards. Or innocently getting caught up by leaving their fingerprints.. that sounds like preparation if so .. I understand your frustration

How many things can be put down to an innocuous accident in one mystery? (Rhetorical question).
The mirror, the fire, the gone through wallet or cab or whatever it was, the sketchy radio signal, the trip by himself the week prior, the unaccounted for hours, how every device that can store photos is missing, etc etc. all
potentially completely unrelated. I think at this point I’m just really frustrated I don’t know it the story ends.

 

[curiouser and curiouser]

Talking to my friend today about it who happened to be talking to they're friend last night about this case , they called it like the Bermuda triangle or something like that? Some well known mystery that it's got a few twists & turns ... Murder/ suicide? He knew the area. Things kept locked up. He doesn't want strangers touching his things or cards. Or innocently getting caught up by leaving their fingerprints.. that sounds like preparation if so .. I understand your frustration

I was just thinking that and came back here to wonder out loud.

What if CC died (he murdered her or was a sad accident/medical), and he bolted. Disposed of her body somewhere, torched the camp, did a runner by himself. Grabbed her cards (is that what was missing?) so no one could steal her money? As for him having no money on him to live off, maybe he went full rogue and stole stuff that hasn’t been found missing.
Knew the area well enough to be able to do that. Hid in the back of someone’s Ute or something to get out. I dunno. (Bloody rough ride out though, surely not! It’s bad enough in the cabin).

Maybe it was meant to be murder suicide. Maybe it wasn’t. Perhaps when she died he couldn’t bear the thought of what would happen - given no one knew they were camping together.

I feel like I’ve come a full circle back to the start again, but.

 

[bearbear]

there does seem to be shame and judgement on carol at least, with her name being struck off or demoted? in her cwa group, presumably because of the affair, so maybe the families are staying quiet because of all the gossip and embarrassment in their circles? seems really petty if thats the reason for their silence

 

[Marchalot]

I

I was just thinking that and came back here to wonder out loud.

What if CC died (he murdered her or was a sad accident/medical), and he bolted. Disposed of her body somewhere, torched the camp, did a runner by himself. Grabbed her cards (is that what was missing?) so no one could steal her money? As for him having no money on him to live off, maybe he went full rogue and stole stuff that hasn’t been found missing.
Knew the area well enough to be able to do that. Hid in the back of someone’s Ute or something to get out. I dunno. (Bloody rough ride out though, surely not! It’s bad enough in the cabin).

Maybe it was meant to be murder suicide. Maybe it wasn’t. Perhaps when she died he couldn’t bear the thought of what would happen - given no one knew they were camping together.

I feel like I’ve come a full circle back to the start again, but.

I Thought i read that a card or cards missing?. You'd think if murder/ suicide that they'd consider what it would do to their families if they couldn't be found, unless angry for some reason.. RH could have gone full rogue & hanging out with buttons? , but I don't think this one. . On a merry go round of theory's.. the holes in truck cabin are something , unless a decoy

 

[SouthAussie]

Mr Hill’s $2,000 drone was missing ..... along with phones, car keys and bank cards

Missing campers Carol Clay and Russell Hill: New clue in Wonnangatta Valley mystery | | Express Digest

 

[Kemug]

What if CC died

Yes, in their situation, the death of one of them while they were together was always going to be a problem. In the past, I believe a couple of NSW MPs found themselves in a similar situation. It was all hushed up, but there were plenty of rumours. So perhaps one of them did die, either from an accident or a medical episode. The other would then be in full panic mode. Depending on which one was left, the resulting actions may have been quite different. But from here my imagination fails me. And I really can't see either of them burning the tent.

 

[Kemug]

And re someone being annoyed by a drone - I can certainly understand and empathise with that. I was at Cossack, a tiny ghost town in northern WA a few years back. But my efforts to "go back in time" had no chance against 2 jet-skiers. I could cheerfully have murdered them!

 

[Marchalot]

there does seem to be shame and judgement on carol at least, with her name being struck off or demoted? in her cwa group, presumably because of the affair, so maybe the families are staying quiet because of all the gossip and embarrassment in their circles? seems really petty if thats the reason for their silence

there does seem to be shame and judgement on carol at least, with her name being struck off or demoted? in her cwa group, presumably because of the affair, so maybe the families are staying quiet because of all the gossip and embarrassment in their circles? seems really petty if thats the reason for their silence

Carol should not be condemned for loving someone a long time it seems . . hope they are found soon

 

[Bats]

Hello Sleuths, my first post. I joined as i am really interested in this case and found this forum....all 120 or so pages of it!

IMO... the Police are very close to cracking this one. The Police probably have stacks of info that they, for one reason or another, don't release to the media.

After a bit over a year of investigating the Police choose to tell the media they are going to search an area that is extremely specific and a long way from the last contact of Carol and Russel. Lo an behold, less than a day into that search they find two shovels. Not a rake, not some secateurs, but shovels. I am sure that not all searches are released to the media, so why this one?

IMO, they went to this location and found exactly what they were looking for. And it is the Police that are connecting this to the disappearances, not the media.

I expect that an arrest is imminent.