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

[trujac]

Well possibly, but how unlucky would Carol and Russell have to be to cross the paths of two separate criminals in such a short space of time?! I'm never going camping there!

Lol...well put...I know this isn't a funny situation but your comments cracked me up, and camping there isn't on my bucket list either.

 

[Tinker Taylor]

Well possibly, but how unlucky would Carol and Russell have to be to cross the paths of two separate criminals in such a short space of time?! I'm never going camping there!

Yeah, what's the odds eh?

I just think that when you hear the sound of hooves, you don't immediately think there's a heard of zebras coming. Look for the most not the least likely scenario. Tent caught alight from one of their chargers (phone, drone). They went looking for help and have never been found.

That makes more sense for me than coming across a random psychopath who murders them and burns down their tent and takes their bodies away and disposes of them all without leaving a trace, but leaves their vehicle and equipment behind. All this in a remote (therefore very few people) area

 

[trujac]

Yeah, what's the odds eh?

I just think that when you hear the sound of hooves, you don't immediately think there's a heard of zebras coming. Look for the most not the least likely scenario. Tent caught alight from one of their chargers (phone, drone). They went looking for help and have never been found.
That makes more sense for me than coming across a random psychopath who murders them and burns down their tent and takes their bodies away and disposes of them all without leaving a trace, but leaves their vehicle and equipment behind. All this in a remote (therefore very few people) area

We know zebra herds aren't out there...maybe these hoofs are out there:

 

[trujac]

Yeah, what's the odds eh?

I just think that when you hear the sound of hooves, you don't immediately think there's a heard of zebras coming. Look for the most not the least likely scenario. Tent caught alight from one of their chargers (phone, drone). They went looking for help and have never been found.Unfor
That makes more sense for me than coming across a random psychopath who murders them and burns down their tent and takes their bodies away and disposes of them all without leaving a trace, but leaves their vehicle and equipment behind. All this in a remote (therefore very few people) area

Unfortunately, at this point, LE is focusing on foul play since none of the evidence points to RH and CC's tent unintentionally burning down...and there is no supporting evidence that they walked away from their campsite.

 

[trujac]

Here's a 2017 drone video of Wonnangatta Valley. I can see why people would be drawn to the area.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=931385330347723

This article written by Tony Wright, May 20, 2020, gives a nice overview of where RH and CC like to visit and set up camp--there is a map in the article that points out the areas where people have gone missing, including the recent disappearance RH and CC.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/...g-the-wonnangatta-valley-20200527-p54x2p.html

 

[Panda]

Article from 21 April (Herald Sun):

"Det Insp Stamper said the camp site had been “completely destroyed” and arson chemists have been able to rule out if the fire was deliberately set.

However there was no evidence to suggest it was visited by a person or car involved in the couples’ disappearance."

At that point, the police suggest there was no evidence to indicate that their campsite was visited by a person or vehicle. Not sure how they can rule out a person visiting but nonetheless.

Considering their mobile phones are missing, I'm now leaning more towards them using the drone in the morning, possibly getting into an altercation because their drone was either too noisy (early morning perhaps?) or deemed to be intrusive upon someone else's campsite or similar.

 

[Panda]

Here's a 2017 drone video of Wonnangatta Valley. I can see why people would be drawn to the area.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=931385330347723

This article written by Tony Wright, May 20, 2020, gives a nice overview of where RH and CC like to visit and set up camp--there is a map in the article that points out the areas where people have gone missing, including the recent disappearance RH and CC.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/...g-the-wonnangatta-valley-20200527-p54x2p.html

Thanks for the post trujac. The drone footage really brings home how much open space there is to camp in the area.

 

[trujac]

Thanks for the post trujac. The drone footage really brings home how much open space there is to camp in the area.

Panda, the more I see of Wonnangatta Valley, the less foreboding it seems...in fact, it appears to be a serene and pristine location with a lot of beautiful wildlife. Whatever happened to RH and CC, I hope their families get some resolution soon.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Your theory as to what might have happened to RH and CC is interesting...I question why someone would abduct RH and CC away from their campsite and then return to their campsite to loot and burn down the tent--for these reasons: namely, what valuables would have been left in the tent if they left with their drone, and LE stated that it appeared all of RH and CC's belongings were still in their locked vehicle?

They were looking for evidence of their criminal activity that RH or CC may have stumbled upon and had proof of at the camp. I don’t think they went to the camp to take food or a ham radio. There was something the bad guys thought our two campers had found and they wanted to make sure there was nothing at the camp that would tie back to them. Presuming they were murdered over their discovery, it’s something fairly valuable. They witnessed, found or in some way threatened the bad guys. They probably didn’t even know that they had stumbled across anything criminal. Maybe they spotted a portable meth lab. It was not a couple of guys hunting off season. Maybe poaching? I don’t know anything about the bush land and what goes on out there. But they were in over their heads before they knew it. Maybe never knew it. I don’t know. Drugs. Guns. Most people are so clueless about the real world. It’s ugly. It’s dangerous. And all I know is that I don’t want to know anymore. That way, I’m safer. I don’t snoop around, I don’t ask questions. I don’t befriend the fringes of society.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Yeah, what's the odds eh?

I just think that when you hear the sound of hooves, you don't immediately think there's a heard of zebras coming. Look for the most not the least likely scenario. Tent caught alight from one of their chargers (phone, drone). They went looking for help and have never been found.

That makes more sense for me than coming across a random psychopath who murders them and burns down their tent and takes their bodies away and disposes of them all without leaving a trace, but leaves their vehicle and equipment behind. All this in a remote (therefore very few people) area

If they went looking for help they would have driven out in his tricked out truck. The truck was operational. There was no place close where they could walk to get help. The stream was a trickle this time of year. No one within miles. Nope.

EDITED TO ADD: right about then Covid-19 blew up. Did it have anything to do with the virus? Missing supplies?

 

[Tinker Taylor]

If they went looking for help they would have driven out in his tricked out truck. The truck was operational. There was no place close where they could walk to get help. The stream was a trickle this time of year. No one within miles. Nope.

EDITED TO ADD: right about then Covid-19 blew up. Did it have anything to do with the virus? Missing supplies?

The vehicle was found locked. If the fire had started when they were asleep, likely the keys were lost in the fire. If they were burned then maybe the stream was a place they could head for, if not for relief from the burns, then as a way to navigate to the nearest settlement/house.

 

[Catmommy]

Still looking for ways for them to be alive; what if a used car was bought with cash from some individual and was driven up there by one followed by the other during a former camping trip? Trips her family but NOT his knew they took. Perhaps it was left there to be used when it was. Just tossing that out there. It could be done, in my opinion, and also why the drone hasn't been recovered.

 

[Panda]

Three theories about what happened to missing Wonnangatta Valley campers | Daily Mail Online

"A spare set of keys was found hidden on the car, but it is believed Mr Hill took the main set with him.

That the car was locked likely indicated the pair left the campsite voluntarily, probably to go for a walk or fly the drone."

 

[trujac]

They were looking for evidence of their criminal activity that RH or CC may have stumbled upon and had proof of at the camp. I don’t think they went to the camp to take food or a ham radio. There was something the bad guys thought our two campers had found and they wanted to make sure there was nothing at the camp that would tie back to them. Presuming they were murdered over their discovery, it’s something fairly valuable. They witnessed, found or in some way threatened the bad guys. They probably didn’t even know that they had stumbled across anything criminal. Maybe they spotted a portable meth lab. It was not a couple of guys hunting off season. Maybe poaching? I don’t know anything about the bush land and what goes on out there. But they were in over their heads before they knew it. Maybe never knew it. I don’t know. Drugs. Guns. Most people are so clueless about the real world. It’s ugly. It’s dangerous. And all I know is that I don’t want to know anymore. That way, I’m safer. I don’t snoop around, I don’t ask questions. I don’t befriend the fringes of society.

Your thoughts about this case are interesting--the idea that something happened to RH and CC that was beyond a thrill kill or a random hostile situation that escalated to murder seems possible...the fact that RH spent a lot of time frequently traveling a long distance to and from this area to camp suggests that he had a serious ongoing draw to the area. Could this mean he was studying something? The area is extremely remote with no distractions other than a couple people possibly passing through and wildlife. I could see someone routinely camping there as a hobby when the weather was nice...but it seems like RH devoted a lot of camping time there for several years. Maybe he stumbled on something that picqued his interest and ultimately lead to some type of deadly conflict.

 

[Kemug]

I doubt very much they would have set fire to the tent etc, to get help. They had a perfectly good vehicle to use if they needed to get help. Not sure what kind of help you're thinking about.

Regarding Russell being there the previous weekend and leaving a vehicle there, that would require someone's help. I don't think personally that's likely. They would need to really, really trust someone to do that, let alone having someone who would be prepared to be involved in such a deception in the first place.

 

[Kemug]

Hi Panda, re my comment about CC and RH possibly deliberately setting fire to their tent - as you say, they had a perfectly good vehicle to escape in - I was thinking along the lines of them perhaps being ordered out of their tent at gunpoint and being marched away. And then maybe RH managing to light something with a cigarette lighter as he left the tent. Not likely, but not impossible perhaps?

 

[Ramjet]

The recent case of the missing autistic boy at Mt Disappointment shows the inadequacy of S & R. in a dense bush environment .
(he was stumbled on by a passer-by close to a road)
There needs to be more use of hi-res imaging by powerful drones .. otherwise more lives will be left in limbo.
... and stupid theories will always result.
Due to compounding issues of covid, difficult access, and unfriendly weather it is no surprise that the search has been unsuccessful.
There is still no reason to suspect foul play.
RH had good reason to go search for his lost drone... and with no other campers to assist them they both were lost.
This is not the Ozarks ..

 

[Tinker Taylor]

Three theories about what happened to missing Wonnangatta Valley campers | Daily Mail Online

"A spare set of keys was found hidden on the car, but it is believed Mr Hill took the main set with him.

That the car was locked likely indicated the pair left the campsite voluntarily, probably to go for a walk or fly the drone."

Wow, so much conflicting information from MSM.

 

[Panda]

Wow, so much conflicting information from MSM.

I didn't think MSM said anything about keys. All they said was the vehicle was locked? I must have missed something.

 

[Kemug]

I don't really know how to put this, but maybe it wasn't only the perps (if indeed there were any) that were tending their crops?