Dezi Freeman police manhunt and fatal confrontation in Victoria
Consensus Summary
Dezi Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, was shot dead by Victoria Police on August 26, 2024 (or early 2026) after a seven-month manhunt following the fatal shootings of two police officers—Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart—and the injury of a third officer at his Porepunkah property on August 26, 2025. Freeman fled into the bushland near Mount Buffalo, evading capture despite an extensive manhunt involving over 450 police officers, the Australian Defence Force, and a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The fugitive was eventually located at a remote property in Thologolong, approximately 150–200 kilometers northeast of Porepunkah, where he was found living in a ramshackle camp of shipping containers and portable structures. After a three-hour standoff, Freeman was shot dead after emerging from the container with a firearm, identified as a police-issued Smith & Wesson pistol. The property owner, Richard Sutherland, had no knowledge of Freeman’s presence and was living in Tasmania. Police confirmed Freeman’s identity after a formal identification process and emphasized that he had refused every opportunity to surrender peacefully. The incident brought closure to the families of the slain officers and the Porepunkah community, though it also reignited discussions about sovereign citizen ideology and the challenges law enforcement faces in apprehending fugitives with extreme beliefs. Investigations continue into potential accomplices who may have assisted Freeman during his time on the run.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Dezi Freeman (aka Desmond Filby) was shot dead by Victoria Police at a property in Thologolong, Victoria’s northeast, on Monday, August 26, 2024 (or early 2026, depending on source formatting) at approximately 8:30 AM.
- Freeman is accused of fatally shooting two police officers—Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson (59) and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart (34)—and injuring a third officer at his Porepunkah property on August 26, 2025.
- The manhunt for Freeman lasted 216 days (seven months) and involved over 450 Victoria Police officers, Australian Defence Force members, Australian Federal Police, and officers from other states.
- Freeman was found in a converted shipping container at a remote property near Murray River Road, Thologolong, approximately 150–200 kilometers northeast of Porepunkah.
- Police used a $1 million reward for information leading to Freeman’s arrest, the largest reward of its kind in Victoria’s history.
- Freeman was identified as the deceased after a formal identification process, confirmed by Victoria Police on August 28, 2024 (or shortly after the incident).
- The property where Freeman was found was owned by Richard Sutherland, who was living in Tasmania and had no knowledge of Freeman’s presence on the property.
- Freeman was described as a self-proclaimed ‘sovereign citizen’ with a history of hostility toward police and the judicial system.
- The standoff with Freeman lasted approximately three hours before he was shot dead after emerging from the container with a firearm.
- The firearm Freeman used was a police-issued Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol, allegedly stolen from one of the officers he killed.
- The state coroner attended the scene, and the investigation was overseen by Victoria Police’s Professional Standards Command.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Bright local Steve said riding in the mountains after Freeman’s death brought comfort, as he and others had been constantly worried about Freeman’s presence nearby.
- Former Victoria Police homicide detective Charlie Bezzina stated the property’s nature made it unlikely innocent people would be injured during the operation.
- Koah Freeman, Dezi Freeman’s son, posted on social media expressing grief and anger at online reactions to his father’s death, emphasizing his father was still his father despite his actions.
- A local firefighter, Hayden Drummond, noted the bushfire in January 2026 had burned within a kilometer of Freeman’s hideout, raising questions about whether Freeman was there during the fire.
- The ABC reported that Freeman’s wife, Amalia, and their teenage son were arrested and questioned in September 2025 but later released without charge.
- The Age reported that Freeman’s hideout was a ramshackle camp with shipping containers, a caravan, and disused vehicles, including a broken-down bus and overturned dinghy.
- The property owner, Richard Sutherland, was described as an ‘eccentric engineer’ who lived off-grid in the containers before moving to Tasmania due to illness.
- The Age mentioned that Freeman’s property in Thologolong was near a firebreak created during the January 2026 bushfire, with fire trucks and bulldozers operating nearby.
- The newspaper reported that Freeman’s death brought ‘closure’ to the Porepunkah community, though locals were still divided over his actions and beliefs.
- The Guardian reported that Freeman was living in a ramshackle camp with shipping containers and portable dongas, none with running water or electricity, and that he had been living there for an unknown period.
- The Guardian noted that Freeman’s death was celebrated by some in the sovereign citizen movement, with comparisons drawn to Ned Kelly.
- The Guardian highlighted that Freeman’s wife, Mali, and their children believed he was already dead after the August 2025 shootings.
- The Guardian reported that Freeman’s death was described as an ‘inglorious blaze’ by a criminal psychologist, emphasizing his ‘utter contempt’ for law and order.
- News.com.au reported that Freeman was shot more than 20 times by police officers, including snipers, and that a Special Operations Group dog was also unleashed during the operation.
- The site mentioned that Freeman’s son, Koah, wrote a scathing social media post about online reactions to his father’s death, calling out people who celebrated his father’s actions.
- News.com.au reported that Freeman’s death was described as a ‘step forward’ by the Police Association Victoria, though it did not lessen the trauma for the families of the slain officers.
- The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Freeman’s hideout was described as a ‘squalid camp’ with no running water or electricity, and that he was living in a collection of shipping containers and portable houses.
- The SMH noted that Freeman’s property was near a bushfire that burned through 120,000 hectares in January 2026, with firefighters operating nearby.
- The newspaper reported that Freeman’s death was described as ‘justice’ by Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, who emphasized that Freeman had refused every opportunity to surrender peacefully.
- The Australian (via ABC) reported that Freeman’s sister described him as an ‘evil man’ and expressed shame and anger at his actions, stating she was unaware of his violent tendencies before the shootings.
- The Age reported that Freeman’s wife, Amalia, was cleared of charges of ‘indictable obstruction of police’ in early 2026.
- The Guardian reported that Freeman’s death was formally confirmed by the state coroner on August 28, 2024 (or shortly after the incident).
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and ABC both report Freeman was found in a shipping container near Thologolong, but the Guardian mentions Freeman was living in a ‘cross between a shipping container and a very long caravan,’ while ABC and The Age describe it as a shipping container with additional structures.
- The Guardian and ABC both report Freeman was living in a remote property near Thologolong, but the Guardian states Freeman was found ‘about 100km’ from Porepunkah, while ABC and The Age report the distance as ‘150–200km.’
- The Guardian reports Freeman was living in his hideout for an unknown period, possibly as little as two weeks, while ABC and The Age do not specify the duration but imply it was longer.
- The Guardian reports that Freeman’s wife and children believed he was already dead after the August 2025 shootings, but ABC and The Age do not provide this specific detail about their beliefs.
- The Guardian and ABC both report Freeman was shot dead after a three-hour standoff, but the Guardian mentions Freeman was ‘wrapped in a blanket’ when he emerged, while ABC and The Age do not specify this detail.
Source Articles
A tip-off before a shootout: How Dezi Freeman’s seven-month run came to an end
This was not a manhunt that ended in a high-speed chase. Instead, it arrived with a surreal, desperate confrontation at a rural property in the state’s northeast.
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What we know about the shooting of Dezi Freeman - podcast
Fugitive Dezi Freeman, the man allegedly responsible for the shooting deaths of two officers at Porepunkah, has been killed after a seven-month manhunt in rural Victoria. Reged Ahmad speaks to justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci Follow our full coverage of the Dezi Freeman shooting Continue reading...
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Freeman is understood to have emerged from his hideout cloaked in a blanket or doona, which he dropped to reveal a weapon Dezi Freeman vanished in the mountain fog. Now he’s been shot dead – but many questions remain Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The final hours and minutes of Dezi Freeman’s life will be analysed in painstaking, forensic detail. But for the moment, there are few independently known facts, after months of rumour and wild speculation. Continue readin
The troubled 'sovereign citizen' who became a notorious police killer
Before Dezi Freeman's death brought an end to a long manhunt, his friends say he was a troubled and divisive figure who was drawn to the anti-authority "sovereign citizen" movement.
Inside the squalid bush encampment where Dezi Freeman died
Two hours’ drive from where he murdered two police, the fugitive was in hiding on a bush block without running water or electricity.
'Evil': Dezi Freeman's sister speaks about her killer brother
Dezi Freeman's sister says her brother "wreaked havoc and evil" as she opens up on a man who had become lost.
Two arrested as part of investigation into movements of Dezi Freeman
Two people have been arrested as police investigate the movements of Dezi Freeman, who was fatally shot by police last week after months on the run.
Dezi Freeman shot dead by police more than seven months after Porepunkah shooting
The fugitive was shot at a rural property on Monday morning, police said.
Dezi Freeman shot dead by police
One of Australia’s biggest manhunts for alleged cop killer Dezi Freeman has ended months after the attack that shocked the nation.
Victoria police arrest two people as part of Dezi Freeman investigation
Man and woman to be interviewed by police after arrests at separate properties in state’s north-east on Saturday morning Two people have been arrested as part of the investigation into how Porepunkah fugitive Dezi Freeman was able to survive on the run for seven months before he was shot dead last week . A man and a woman were arrested at separate properties in north-east Victoria on Saturday morning around 7am. Continue reading...
Dezi Freeman’s short stay at remote property betrayed by inner circle
Police believe the double killer had not been at his remote bush hideout long before a tip-off led them to his location.
Owner of property where Dezi Freeman died goes to police
Richard Sutherland has told friends he had no sympathy for the police killer and had no clue anyone was staying on his land.
A tip-off before a shootout: How Dezi Freeman’s seven-month run came to an end
This was not a manhunt that ended in a high-speed chase. Instead, it arrived with a surreal, desperate confrontation at a rural property in the state’s northeast.
Australia’s most high-profile manhunt ended in a sleepy high country farming community. But how did Dezi Freeman get to Thologolong?
Until they heard the gunshots, locals say they had no idea the 56-year-old fugitive had been hiding out next door In Thologolong, a small mark on the map in the Victorian high country, the sky is clear, the Murray River is up and Australia’s longest manhunt has come to an end. Standing among the dried leaves and eucalyptus bark, the Victorian police chief commissioner, Mike Bush, is addressing reporters. Fugitive Dezi Freeman died here on Monday morning , Bush says, after a three-hour standoff i
Dezi Freeman shooting live updates: Victoria police to give update on Australian fugitive shot dead after months-long manhunt
Porepunkah fugitive, 56, had been on the run after allegedly killing two police officers in Australian alpine region in August Full story: Dezi Freeman shot dead by police Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A recap of the circumstances surrounding the hunt for Freeman: the police officers who were shot had been part of a group of 10 police – made up of local officers and members of the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team – who entered Freeman’s Porepunkah
Dezi Freeman shot dead by police after seven-month-long manhunt
Shooting occurred at a property in north-east Victoria after major manhunt for 56-year-old, who allegedly killed two police officers in Porepunkah Live updates: Australian fugitive Dezi Freeman shot dead by Victoria police Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Fugitive Dezi Freeman, the man allegedly responsible for the shooting deaths of two officers at Porepunkah, has been killed after a seven-month long manhunt in rural Victoria. Victorian police announced on Monday tha
‘It’s really polarised the population’: amid a police search for Dezi Freeman’s helpers, some sympathy towards the double-murderer remains
Police say anyone who helped the 56-year-old fugitive, who allegedly killed two police officers, ‘will be held to account’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast As beers are poured at the Bright pub, and cyclists pedal down the side of Mount Buffalo, grief, anger and a conspiratorial sense of disbelief is bubbling over. Many in the alpine region are celebrating the death of Dezi Freeman , who was shot by police on Mond
Dezi Freeman killed in 'developing situation' at property in Victoria
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Video reveals Freeman’s deadly final act
Victoria’s top cop has shed major details behind the shooting of fugitive Dezi Freeman, after he was shot dead by police officers after months on the run.
Dezi Freeman’s final days and the clues that could lead police to his helpers
More than 24 hours before they confronted a double police killer, the Special Operations Group moved into their go positions and lay in wait, using electronic surveillance to confirm their fugitive was alone.
Dezi Freeman: what we know about the three-hour siege that led to the fugitive's death – video
Fugitive Dezi Freeman, the man allegedly responsible for the shooting deaths of two police officers at Porepunkah, has been shot by police after a seven-month manhunt in rural Victoria. The Victoria police chief commissioner, Mike Bush, has confirmed a man was fatally shot by police shortly after 8.30am on Monday, after an hours-long standoff in which he failed to surrender peacefully. He would not confirm the man was Freeman but said the shooting concluded Operation Summit, the investigation in
Live: Porepunkah shooter Dezi Freeman shot dead by police
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After two days, police formally identify Dezi Freeman as man shot dead
Victoria Police have officially confirmed that the person shot dead by officers at a property in Victoria's north-east on Monday morning was fugitive Dezi Freeman.
‘Utter contempt’: Cop killer’s final act
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Two shootings, 150km apart: Dezi Freeman's final destination mystifies locals
The fugitive resurfaced more than 150 kilometres away from the town where he shot and killed two police officers seven months ago. Mystified locals are questioning how.
How Dezi dodged the police for so long
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Two arrested after Dezi shot dead by cops
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New photos reveal details at hideout where Dezi Freeman was killed
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Freeman joins a long line of fugitives captured or killed in Australia
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The key moments in the long search for a police killer
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Dezi Freeman shot dead by police after seven-month-long manhunt – video
Victorian police have confirmed that fugitive Dezi Freeman has been killed after a manhunt lasting seven months in rural Victoria . Freeman, who police say did not surrender peacefully, is allegedly responsible for the shooting deaths of two officers at Porepunkah. The shooting occurred at a property in north-east Victoria after a major manhunt for the 56-year-old Dezi Freeman shot dead by police after seven-month-long manhunt Live updates: Australian fugitive Dezi Freeman shot dead by Victoria
Seven months ago, Dezi Freeman vanished in the mountain fog. Now he’s been shot dead – but many questions remain
The ‘sovereign citizen’ who killed two police officers had left in his wake a haze of rumours and misinformation Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast It seemed that Dezi Freeman, a sovereign citizen who murdered two police officers and wounded a third at a rural property about 200km north-east of Melbourne in August 2025, had vanished. After the shootings, he fled into thick bushland near Mount Buffalo, and then, like the fog that shrouds the mountain’s summit, he evapora
Inside the squalid bush encampment where Dezi Freeman died
Two hours’ drive from where he murdered two police, the fugitive was in hiding on a bush block without running water or electricity.
Police continue hunt for anyone who assisted fugitive Dezi Freeman
Police say they will come down hard on anyone who helped Dezi Freeman, who was shot dead by police yesterday after a massive seven-month manhunt.
Dezi Freeman: Person who tipped off police about cop killer up for $1 million reward
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Squalid spot where Freeman was found
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Dezi Freeman’s final days and the clues that could lead police to his helpers
More than 24 hours before they confronted a double police killer, the Special Operations Group moved into their go positions and lay in wait, using electronic surveillance to confirm their fugitive was alone.
What we know about where Dezi Freeman made his last stand
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