The eldest son of a man accused of killing two police officers in Victoria said his father had exceptional bushcraft and survival skills but is "probably deceased," in his first public comments since the shootings on Aug. 26.
Koah Freeman told Australian publications that his father, 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, could survive for long periods in rugged country and was intimately familiar with the Mount Buffalo area, but that the family fears he may no longer be alive. The comments come as a 450-strong search for Freeman continues more than a week after police say he opened fire at a rural property in Porepunkah in the Victorian High Country.
Victoria Police allege Freeman shot dead Detective Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 35, after around 10 officers attended the property to serve a warrant relating to historic sexual assault allegations involving a minor. A third officer was reportedly wounded and later treated. Police said there have been no confirmed sightings of Freeman since just before 11 a.m. on Aug. 26.
Koah Freeman described his father’s abilities in stark terms, likening them to the fictional character Rambo and saying Freeman had been hiking in the Mount Buffalo National Park since his teens. "I'm not sure if you have ever seen the movie Rambo, especially the first Rambo movie, it's like that but 10 times capacity," Koah said. He added that his father would have had access to water and could "easily go days, weeks without food."
"At this stage, I think he's probably deceased," Koah said, while urging his father to surrender if he is alive: "If he's still out there, all I'd say to him is … come back, mate, turn yourself in." He said the family had been assisting police and that he had received counselling. He also offered condolences to the families of the slain officers: "On behalf of myself and the rest of my family, our hearts go out to the fallen officers' family. We never wanted it to end like this." Koah said he feared being judged or assumed to be like his father by those who do not know them.
Victoria Police announced a reward of up to A$1 million on Saturday for information leading to Freeman's arrest, the largest such reward ever offered in the state. Police warned the public not to approach Freeman, saying they believed he remained armed. Investigators have said there is no specific intelligence indicating Freeman is being sheltered, but have acknowledged the difficult terrain and need for supplies means assistance remains a possibility under active investigation.
Communities near Porepunkah have paid tribute to the slain officers. Flags flew at half-mast at the Ovens command centre and in the Bright town centre, floral tributes appeared at several local sites and blue ribbons were tied to trees in Bright. Senior Constable De Waart-Hottart was farewelled at a funeral service on Friday; Detective Thompson is due to be farewelled on Monday.
Police continue to appeal for information from anyone who may have been in the Mount Buffalo area or around Porepunkah in the days following Aug. 26. Authorities have not released details about the warrant beyond saying it related to historic sexual assault allegations involving a minor. Investigators have not publicly named a motive and have stressed enquiries remain ongoing as they seek to locate Freeman and establish the full circumstances of the shootings.
Families of the officers and members of the community have been offered support services, and police have reiterated warnings that Freeman should be considered armed and dangerous. The manhunt remains active while investigators follow up on tips and forensic leads as part of their broader inquiry into the incident.