Dezi Freeman Hunt: Seven Months of Manhunts

A Dramatic End to a Manhunt: Dezi Freeman Killed by Police

Victoria Police have brought an end to a seven-month manhunt, fatally shooting 56-year-old Dezi Freeman at a property in Victoria’s north-east. The dramatic conclusion marks the close of a large-scale operation launched after Freeman allegedly killed two officers and injured a third while they were attempting to execute a warrant at a property in Porepunkah back in August.

For months, the search for the fugitive saw hundreds of officers, over 2,000 public tips, and a $1 million reward fail to locate Freeman, who had fled into the dense bushland. This extensive operation has now concluded with his death.

Key Figures in the Porepunkah Tragedy

The events surrounding the Porepunkah shooting and the subsequent manhunt involved several key individuals and significant locations.

Dezi Freeman: The Fugitive

Dezi Freeman, aged 56, was the central figure in the prolonged manhunt. He had been a person of interest since the fatal shootings in Porepunkah in August. Freeman identified as a “sovereign citizen,” a movement that espouses fringe legal theories to reject government authority. According to a longtime friend, Freeman had experienced difficulties maintaining employment and had been receiving a disability pension since the early 2000s. He fled on foot following the shootings and was ultimately killed after a stand-off with police at a property approximately 200 kilometres north-east of Porepunkah.

Amalia Freeman: Wife of the Accused

Amalia Freeman was married to Dezi Freeman, and the couple shared a 15-year-old son. Police confirmed that Ms. Freeman was present at the Porepunkah property at the time of the August shootings. She was arrested days later along with her son, but both were subsequently released. A statement released by her lawyer in late August indicated that Ms. Freeman rejected any notion of sharing her husband’s extremist views towards law enforcement or the government and appealed for him to surrender.

Fallen Officers: A Devoted Service Cut Short

The Porepunkah incident tragically claimed the lives of two dedicated Victoria Police officers.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson had dedicated nearly 40 years of service to Victoria Police. He was just days away from retirement when he was killed in the Porepunkah shooting. The 59-year-old had served at Collingwood Police Station for seven years before transferring to Wangaratta in 2007. Friends remembered him as a kind individual who envisioned an active retirement filled with fishing, deer hunting, and time with his partner of six years, who is also a police officer. At his funeral, his partner shared that Neal loved the Essendon Bombers and had taught her to “love without fear and how to be brave when I am scared.” A longtime friend, Jason Williams, described him as “one of the most loyal, generous, kind-hearted mates anyone could ever ask for.”
Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart: Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 34, had been a member of the force for seven years and joined the Public Order Response Team in April 2023. He was also killed when Freeman allegedly opened fire on the officers executing the warrant. Loved ones remembered him as a “hero” with a “contagious smile” who had a passion for scuba diving and motorcycling with friends and colleagues. He had studied and worked in Europe and was fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Flemish. Approximately 3,000 people attended his funeral in September, including family members who travelled from overseas to deliver eulogies.

The Injured Officer

A third officer sustained injuries during the August shooting and underwent surgery for lower body trauma. Chief Police Commissioner Mike Bush stated that the officer was expected to make a full recovery, though he was described as “significantly damaged.” The injured officer’s name has not been released to protect his privacy.

Geographic Scope of the Manhunt

The search for Dezi Freeman spanned a significant portion of Victoria’s north-east, with initial efforts concentrating around Rayner Track in Porepunkah, the site of the initial shootings.

Porepunkah and Surrounds: The immediate area around Porepunkah was the initial focus, with residents advised to stay indoors.
Mount Buffalo National Park: This rugged alpine area became a significant search zone and was temporarily closed to the public.
Benalla: Police also conducted searches in and around Benalla, located about 100 kilometres from Porepunkah, as the investigation broadened.
Walwa Region: The property where Freeman was ultimately shot and killed is located near Walwa, a border town approximately 200 kilometres north-east of Porepunkah.

A Detailed Timeline of Events

The search for Dezi Freeman and the events leading up to the Porepunkah shooting and his subsequent death are marked by a series of significant incidents and investigations.

Pre-August 2025: A History of Encounters

2018: Freeman featured on the television program A Current Affair discussing a dispute with neighbours he accused of harassment.
2019: During a disagreement over public access to Mount Buffalo National Park, Freeman attempted to arrest a magistrate in Wangaratta.
December 2020: On social media, Freeman made unsubstantiated accusations that authorities were using legal loopholes to administer harmful substances to people. An analysis of his social media activity from 2019 onwards revealed a strong aversion to authority.
2021: Freeman was involved in an unsuccessful attempt to initiate a private prosecution against former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for treason and fraud. He was subsequently arrested during a protest outside the Myrtleford Magistrates’ Court.
2024: Freeman informed the Supreme Court that he and his family were victims of “malicious prosecution” and a “personal vendetta” following a traffic stop for speeding outside a fish and chip shop. Court documents detail a heated exchange where Freeman refused a drug test and filmed the officers. This incident led to the cancellation of his firearms licence and his expulsion from his gun club.

August 2025: The Porepunkah Shootings and the Start of the Manhunt

August 26, 2025: Victoria Police officers arrived at Dezi Freeman’s property in Porepunkah to execute a search warrant related to historical sexual offences. Around 10:30 am, two officers were allegedly shot and killed by Freeman, with a third officer sustaining serious injuries. Freeman then fled into the dense bushland, triggering a massive manhunt. His wife, Amalia, and their teenage son later attended a police station.
August 27, 2025: The search intensified, with locals instructed to secure their homes due to the belief that Freeman was heavily armed. An aircraft ban was imposed over Porepunkah and surrounding areas. The deceased officers were identified as Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson (59) and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart (34).
August 28, 2025: Police confirmed no confirmed sightings of Freeman since his escape, noting his presumed expertise as a bushman with intimate knowledge of the area. A surrender plan was offered, and warnings were issued to anyone assisting Freeman. The state government pledged to fund the search indefinitely. Late that night, Amalia Freeman and her son were arrested during a raid, interviewed, and subsequently released.
August 29, 2025: Police investigated alleged sightings of Freeman, with 450 officers involved in the search. Severe weather, including damaging winds and blizzard conditions, hampered efforts in the alpine region. Porepunkah businesses began to reopen, but the town remained subdued. A 61-year-old man was arrested in Bright in connection with the search and charged with drug and weapons offences.
August 31, 2025: Amalia Freeman, through her lawyer, issued a statement urging her husband to surrender, expressing condolences to the officers’ families, and distancing herself from his extremist views.

September 2025: Public Appeal and Tributes

September 1, 2025: A mobile police unit was established in Bright to gather public information. Authorities indicated a belief that Freeman was receiving assistance from members of the community.
September 5, 2025: Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart was farewelled at a police funeral at the Victoria Police Academy in Melbourne.
September 6, 2025: Victoria Police announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Freeman’s arrest, the largest such reward in the state’s history.
September 8, 2025: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson was also honoured at a police funeral at the Police Academy.
September 10, 2025: Images purportedly from a video showing officers interacting with Freeman before the shooting were published. Victoria Police strongly condemned the release of this material. Parents of Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart visited a staging area in Ovens to meet with their son’s colleagues.
September 14, 2025: Travel restrictions around Porepunkah were lifted, though vigilance was still advised.
September 15, 2025: The Victorian government announced a $2.5 million support package for local businesses impacted by the prolonged search operations.

October – December 2025: Extended Searches and Taskforce Formation

October 1, 2025: A search team was deployed to Benalla, approximately 100 km west of Porepunkah.
October 24, 2025: Mount Buffalo National Park reopened to the public, and Taskforce Summit was established to spearhead the ongoing search for Freeman.
December 5, 2025: Victoria Police announced an intensive, “targeted” search operation in Mount Buffalo National Park, utilising cadaver dogs and specialist technology to find evidence or Freeman’s body. This five-day search yielded no results.

February – March 2026: The Final Confrontation

February 2, 2026: Police expressed a strong belief that Freeman was deceased as they commenced a second targeted search in a remote area of the park.
March 30, 2026: Following a three-hour stand-off in Victoria’s north-east, police shot and killed a man. While formal identification was pending, the ABC confirmed the individual was believed to be Dezi Freeman. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated the shooting was justified and that the families of the two officers killed in August had been informed first. He described the incident as the conclusion to one of Victoria Police’s largest-ever search operations, referring to the August events as a “horrendous crime where two of our officers were murdered and one was seriously injured.” He added that the resolution brought closure to all members of Victoria Police.