MANHUNT FOR ALLEGED PORPUNKAH GUNMAN DEZI FREEMAN INTENSIFIES: Hundreds of Fresh Tips Flood in as Search Enters 16th Day
- Victoria Police receive about 200 new tip-offs in relation to Dezi Freeman’s whereabouts, taking the total to over 1,000 pieces of information
- Despite the surge in leads, there have been no confirmed sightings of the 59-year-old fugitive in the two weeks since the fatal shooting
- The parents of slain police officer Vadim de Waart-Hottart visit the police staging area in Ovens, meeting with investigators and providing emotional tributes to their son
Dezi Freeman, the alleged gunman behind the fatal shooting of two police officers in Porepunkah, remains on the run as the search for him enters its 16th day. Despite a $1 million reward and an influx of fresh tips, Victoria Police are yet to confirm a sighting of the 59-year-old fugitive.
“We’ve received about 200 pieces of information in relation to Dezi Freeman’s whereabouts, and we’re working through each and every one of them,” said Superintendent Craig Darlow in a media briefing. “We’re committed to searching the rough terrain for as long as it takes to locate him.”
The search efforts have taken a toll on the town of Porepunkah, with business traffic plummeting as tourists are warned away from visiting. Superintendent Darlow acknowledged the community’s frustration, urging patience and understanding as police work to bring Freeman to justice.
In a “distressing and disappointing” development, a video purportedly showing the lead-up to the shooting has been leaked, with police addressing media reports of the footage. Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly confirmed the video was not filmed by Victoria Police but by a member of the Freeman family.
The parents of Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, one of the two officers killed in the shooting, have visited the police staging area in Ovens, meeting with investigators and providing emotional tributes to their son. Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly described the tour as “emotional”** and praised the couple’s courage.
Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34, was remembered as a “hero”** who loved the outdoors and travelling. His brother Sacha urged mourners to remember him for “how he lived, not how he died”.