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

[trujac]

That or familiarity. I understand that he was a retired logger and that seemed to be his area. But serious ongoing draw? I’d like to at least consider your observation as another lead. After retirement, was he hired as a consultant to continue his work for the logging company? That could answer his ongoing draw. And his wife not concerning herself with his frequent trips. Or the purchase of a sophisticated drone. You’d think LE would think of these things, as well.

Let's suppose someone or some business/government agency, etc. hired RH to do something for them in Wonnangatta Valley that entailed RH having to camp there often. And, whoever hired RH doesn't want the general public to be aware of this fact--because it would no longer provide the quality and safety of anonymous observation. I would think if this is the case...initially LE wasn't aware of the arrangement. However, after considerable time and the LE searches for RH and CC came up empty, LE eventually received this additional information about RH...and this was the reason that changed LE's investigation from two people missing to two people missing because of foul play.

 

[trujac]

"with his experience in electronics" Why do you say he's experienced in electronics? I hadn't read any reference to that.

Panda, several news article said he was a skilled ham radio operator--I have a ham radio license and was part of a ham radio club years ago, and spent time with club members participating in ham radio contests honing up their ham radio skills; in order to rig up and operate a ham radio out in the middle of nowhere you have to be skilled in electronics--how radios, antennas, cables, connectors, etc. work--and how to troubleshoot a lot of electronic related problems. Those are transferable skills; it would enable RH to modify his drone, IMO.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

I don't think CC was married but from all appearances RH and CC weren't secretive people...that is why I finding the camping trips they took interesting--namely, because it seems like they must have had a compelling reason to hang together were they did--out in the boonies. The camper that ran into them in February before RH and CC disappeared said that he spoke with them...and they both seemed perfectly relaxed and comfortable telling him that they lived in separate homes. I would think if they were concealing an affair they would have not mentioned their living arrangements or the nature of their relationship...but nothing in this case is black and white--your idea about RH still working for the logging company is very insightful...the amount of time he spent up there camping and his drone would definitely come into play if he was hired by the logging company to act as a type of forest ranger overseeing and protecting the area.

Read about CC being married in very early reports but that they had lived apart for many years. As opposed to RH who was still in the same house.

 

[Panda]

Panda, several news article said he was a skilled ham radio operator--I have a ham radio license and was part of a ham radio club years ago, and spent time with club members participating in ham radio contests honing up their ham radio skills; in order to rig up and operate a ham radio out in the middle of nowhere you have to be skilled in electronics--how radios, antennas, cables, connectors, etc. work--and how to troubleshoot a lot of electronic related problems. Those are transferable skills; it would enable RH to modify his drone, IMO.

Thanks for the insight trujac. I no nothing about ham radio stuff! Very interesting!

 

[trujac]

Ok, I didn't realise that this was newly released information, although I noted the date on the article was today. Sunday seems like a strange day to release new information on an ongoing case. Yes, we already knew the vehicle was locked.

So now we know that a spare set of keys was found on the vehicle. This puts a different spin on things.

I am glad LE found a spare set of keys on RH truck--knowing his background and level of outdoor experience, it would have seemed out of character to me that he didn't take a simple precaution to ensure his safety. Now, we can rest assured, the vehicle remaining at the campsite wasn't because there wasn't a way to easily start it.

 

[Panda]

Let's suppose someone or some business/government agency, etc. hired RH to do something for them in Wonnangatta Valley that entailed RH having to camp there often. And, whoever hired RH doesn't want the general public to be aware of this fact--because it would no longer provide the quality and safety of anonymous observation. I would think if this is the case...initially LE wasn't aware of the arrangement. However, after considerable time and the LE searches for RH and CC came up empty, LE eventually received this additional information about RH...and this was the reason that changed LE's investigation from two people missing to two people missing because of foul play.

Don't forget that Russell was quite elderly and retired - with medical issues. He may have simply gone to the area to practise using his new drone. We haven't been told when he got the drone but given the large expanse of open camping ground, it's quite feasible that he enjoyed camping and used the time to practise.

Given the news articles about him, we know that he enjoyed camping and liked and was familiar with that particular area as well. So he may have camped their frequently purely for the enjoyment factor.

 

[trujac]

From Express Digest:

"He is understood to have earned his nickname due to his hobby of using deer antlers to make buttons – which he then uses as large ear piercings.

Using well crafted traditional spears, the man is known to camp for weeks on end in remote bushlands and hunt for deer, the Age reported."

Mr. Buttons seems like a real character...I am always leery about people who hunt. The act of killing and harvesting animals takes a mindset that I don't have...

 

[trujac]

Don't forget that Russell was quite elderly and retired - with medical issues. He may have simply gone to the area to practise using his new drone. We haven't been told when he got the drone but given the large expanse of open camping ground, it's quite feasible that he enjoyed camping and used the time to practise.

Given the news articles about him, we know that he enjoyed camping and liked and was familiar with that particular area as well. So he may have camped their frequently purely for the enjoyment factor.

Panda, I agree about RH's age and his health issues--and that he might have just liked routinely visiting the Wonnangatta Valley because he spent years employed as a logger there. However, whatever else he has been doing while camping there for many years (other than communicating/listening with his ham radio) hasn't been illuminated on. The drone was purchased recently--several news articles talk about the fact that RH had just purchased the device and was apparently trying it out. Here is a brief article on the history of drones that I found informative and interesting to read; it highlights the origin of drones and their ever growing capabilities. History of Drones - Facts that You Need to Know About Drones

 

[Panda]

Very interesting article trujac. Thanks for posting.

 

[Panda]

Interesting. Charlie states Russells wallet was found but credit cards and cash missing?
I don't recall reading about a wallet being found?

Has anyone come across any information to validate Russell's wallet being found and credit cards and cash missing (how they would know that he had cash is beyond me, but anyway). I feel this is misinformation as I still can't find any reference to it in MSM.

 

[Ramjet]

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[Ramjet]

The most likely scenario IMO is the following:
He is a radio ham and a technophile .. therefore after setting up camp on Friday 20th March he would soon be piloting the drone and exploring the limits of his new 'toy'.
The drone aborted due to weak signal and did a default 'return to home'.
The battery expired and the craft did a forced landing .. somewhere.
He would know the location from the GPS and go look for it.
Being confident in the bush he would set out early next day (Sat 21st) to retrieve it.
He got into trouble and called back to Carol for assistance using short range 'handy talkie'.
She also got into trouble and in her haste left something on the stove which later burned down the tent.
They got lost or injured. . and then benighted.
This, (and the recent search for the autistic boy) show the inadequacy of current searching methodology.
More use of drones and high res thermal imaging required...

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I think it's strange that the only family member we hear of is Russell's wife. And where are the friends on Russell's side coming forward to say how worried they are.
And if Carol is not married now (I have no idea) she seems to have been or at least had a partner as her grandchildren are mentioned, as in her not seeing them grow up.
Vital new evidence discovered after pair mysteriously disappear from campsite

One of Carol Clay's close friends, Dorothy Coombe, told A Current Affair the grandmother "loved and adored" her family and wanted to see her grand-kids grow up.
Where are Carols family members coming forward. Seems we're hearing from only friends.

 

[Morrisa]

Has anyone come across any information to validate Russell's wallet being found and credit cards and cash missing (how they would know that he had cash is beyond me, but anyway). I feel this is misinformation as I still can't find any reference to it in MSM.

Nope, nothing! I feel that Charlie has his crimes mixed up!

 

[Steffy_jade]

Thanks for weighing in, and welcome! Your insight and knowledge of the area is very helpful. I wonder why he may have been looking for the Button Man. Any idea why he’s known by that name? TIA

I think someone (maybe panda) already answered why he is called the button man.
As for why he might have been looking for him, it’s all just town gossip far as I know, no substantial evidence that he WAS looking for him, but there have been other rumours that the button man might have been involved in other strange disappearances and also he sounds like he’s just a real unusual guy, living out in the bush on his own and scaring hunters and campers, so someone who had heard about him and was intrigued might go looking. There’s also the chance he might have met him before, there are story’s of the button man walking into peoples camps out of the blue and asking them questions and maki g people uncomfortable, if that had happened to Russell (which is possible considering he was in the area often) he might have told the story to others in the area, heard some of the rumours and decided to do some more digging.
I don’t necessarily think it’s a likely scenario but it’s possible. It could be a reason why they’ve gone missing rather than just a freak set of coincidences or accidents.

 

[Tinker Taylor]

Nope, nothing! I feel that Charlie has his crimes mixed up!

That post of Pandas started me thinking.

Given that his wife was unaware, and she did not live with her husband, how did anyone know that Carol went camping with Russell that weekend?
In one report, the camp was found burned out on the day after he left. Then it was said that Police started to search a week later. Did they leave it a week before searching the bush for them?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I was wondering the same thing.

I seem to remember reading that some of her family knew about the camping trip with Russell.

Given that his wife was unaware, and she did not live with her husband, how did anyone know that Carol went camping with Russell that weekend?

 

[Paul_Pry]

This might answer your question Tinker Taylor

"Mr Hill was seen by neighbours loading Ms Clay's bags into his car as he picked her up from her home in Pakenham on March 19.

Using data from the pair's mobile phones, police have been able to track the route they took to the Wonnangatta Valley, however, once they reached the campsite the phone reception cut out."

Quotes from this article from The Age news
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...days-before-camping-trip-20200422-p54m7y.html

 

[Ramjet]

That post of Pandas started me thinking.

Given that his wife was unaware, and she did not live with her husband, how did anyone know that Carol went camping with Russell that weekend?
In one report, the camp was found burned out on the day after he left. Then it was said that Police started to search a week later. Did they leave it a week before searching the bush for them?

Yes and no.

 

[Tinker Taylor]

This might answer your question Tinker Taylor

"Mr Hill was seen by neighbours loading Ms Clay's bags into his car as he picked her up from her home in Pakenham on March 19.

Using data from the pair's mobile phones, police have been able to track the route they took to the Wonnangatta Valley, however, once they reached the campsite the phone reception cut out."

Quotes from this article from The Age news
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.th...days-before-camping-trip-20200422-p54m7y.html

Thanks Paul. Interesting that a neighbour would contact Police to report seeing him with Carol. She obviously didn't let anyone else know where and with whom she was going away. I wonder how the neighbour would have known Russell and known that he was missing? Was the search for him/them started the following day or a week later?