A woman has been arrested in northeast Victoria as police continue to investigate who may have aided Dezi Freeman, who evaded authorities for seven months after fatally shooting two police officers.
Freeman, 56, was killed on March 30 after being located on a remote property near Walwa. He had disappeared on August 26, 2025, after a shootout occurred when ten officers attempted to serve a warrant at his residence, a bus he shared with his wife and two children in Porepunkah. The incident resulted in the deaths of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart.
Following the fatal shooting, Freeman fled into the bushland of Mount Buffalo National Park. Victoria Police launched a large-scale manhunt involving police, the army, and special forces.
On Friday, detectives from Taskforce Summit arrested a 58-year-old woman in the Bairnsdale area as part of their ongoing investigation into Freeman's movements after he became a fugitive. The woman is being interviewed by police. No charges have been laid.
This arrest follows a June operation where police executed search warrants across Victoria and New South Wales, leading to five arrests. Those individuals were later released.
The home of Kay and Bruce Reid, parents of AFL players Ben and Sam Reid, was among the properties searched in June. The Reids were not arrested. Kay Reid confirmed her family's friendship with Freeman and his wife, Mali, and stated that her family had stored Freeman's registered firearms for a period. Bruce Reid had disclosed this information to the police. Ms. Reid also mentioned arranging travel for Mali Freeman to migrate to Australia.
Police believe Freeman traveled between Victoria and New South Wales during his time on the run and received assistance from multiple individuals. Detectives are seeking information from anyone who may have knowledge of Freeman's movements between August 2025 and March 2026.
Both the initial fatal shooting of the two officers and Freeman's subsequent death are subject to coronial investigations.
