Investigators searching for Dezi Freeman, the man accused of fatally shooting two police officers, are urgently trying to locate a remote hideout he referred to in a social media post four years ago, authorities and media reports say.
Police believe the site, which Freeman called "Buffalo Creek," is tucked deep in the rugged slopes of Mount Buffalo and could have been the refuge he used after the alleged shootings. The name does not appear on official maps, and family members and close associates say they do not know its exact location, according to reporting by the Daily Mail.
Freeman posted a single image in 2021 on a private Instagram account that investigators have reviewed, writing, "My happy place. Buffalo Creek. Here I am me, I am in my element, I am connected, I am where I belong, I am who I am," the Daily Mail reported. Detectives are using the photograph and the post's accompanying text to map routes that could lead to the location as the search enters its third week.
The manhunt for Freeman began after police executed a search warrant on a property in Porepunkah, about 300 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, on Aug. 26 in relation to historic allegations that he sexually assaulted a minor. Two officers were shot dead during or shortly after that operation, police said, and Freeman fled into bushland believed to include Mount Buffalo.
Victoria Police, supported by the Australian Defence Force, have committed about 450 personnel to the operation, which has included searches of more than 100 properties in surrounding towns and sustained patrols through parkland and access roads. Authorities have received hundreds of public tips and have offered a A$1 million reward for information leading to Freeman's arrest.
Police told media outlets they are also working with Meta to obtain access to multiple social media accounts associated with Freeman. Investigators say his public Facebook posts contained attacks on police and authorities, while an Instagram account restricted to family and friends contained personal images and references to the secluded site.
Friends and associates interviewed by the Daily Mail described Freeman as protective of the location and said he had referred to it repeatedly on social media. "He wouldn't tell any of us exactly where it was and I have no doubt he headed there," one friend said. The same person told the outlet that others had provided details about the site to police but had been unable to find it themselves.
Police have declined to confirm specifics about the photographic evidence or the site publicly, citing operational security and the ongoing nature of the search. Authorities have said they continue to follow leads across a broad area and to test information provided by the public.
Mount Buffalo and the surrounding high-country terrain are steep, remote and heavily forested in places, complicating search efforts. Locals and searchers warned the area is difficult to navigate and can be dangerous, particularly for prolonged searches. Police have reinforced patrols in nearby towns and advised residents to report any sightings or suspicious activity.
Family members and friends have offered divergent portraits of Freeman. Public posts he made on Facebook conveyed anti-authority views, while images on his private Instagram account showed family scenes and his interest in nature, according to reporting. One friend told the Daily Mail that Freeman had married on the mountain and suggested he could have stored supplies there before the alleged incident.
Police have not released details about Freeman's current whereabouts, any further sightings, or any new evidence linking him to the photo location. The manhunt continues with searches across Mount Buffalo and surrounding areas, and authorities asked anyone with information to contact Victoria Police or Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remains active, and police say they will provide updates when appropriate as they continue efforts to locate Freeman and bring anyone responsible for the deaths of the two officers to justice.