The disappearance of two campers brings multiple hidden secrets to light | Forensic Files

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our website on Saturday March 21 2020 Andrew marwad his wife and their two children
woke to crisp autumn Air at their campsite on the howt high plains in the Australian state of
Victoria located within the Alpine National Park in the state's Northeast the area was popular with campers
seeking a rugged and remote spot to be within nature after breakfast the Marat family
decided to venture down into the nearby wangata Valley hoping to find a campsite
closer to the river as they navigated the winding tracks Andrew an experienced Bushman
kept a watch for suitable clearings at around lunchtime he turned into what looked like a promising
spot once inside however it was a different story a white Toyota Land Cruiser you
apparently new was parked in the clearing all along its passenger side canopy were black Scorch
marks on the ground beside the vehicle was what Andrew first took to be the remains of a campfire but the blackened
area sprawled far larger than any responsible camper would allow drawing closer Andrew realized he
was looking at a campsite that had been entirely cremated chairs warning mattresses and a
tent had all been reduced to Twisted Metal and dash the only thing left standing was a
toilet tent set apart from the main side it had largely escaped to The Inferno save for some melted
Zips the scene was cold there was no smoke or Embers and the ash had a long cool
the Land Cruiser stood locked and empty deciding to keep moving the markarts pressed on Upstream eventually
finding a suitable spot to settle near a suspension bridge but the memory of the burnt out
camp nagged at Andrew throughout the night the next morning he walked back to the incinerated site
alone nothing had changed yet something felt wrong a lead trailed from the land Cruiser's
canopy to the ground the vehicle's passenger side mirror was missing as though ripped off
and empty Bourbon and colar cans lay scattered behind the rear wheel peering through a window Andrew
spotted a pink bag on the front seat there was an esy tucked under the Ute when Andrew lifted its lid he saw food
inside that looked fresh increasingly uneasy Andrew returned to his family to talk the
matter over they wondered whether there had been an emergency and a second vehicle
had taken the Land Cruisers campers out for medical attention or supplies with no phone reception and
unable to do anym Andrew photographed the scene once he was back in Mobile range
he would report the discovery to the police [Music] 2 days before Andrew Marat had
discovered the burnt out campsite a 74-year-old named Russell Hill Was preparing to go camping in the the one
andeta Valley this would be Russell's third visit to the area in a month just one week earlier he had
camped for a single night in the Alpine national park it was a 6-hour round trip from his
home in the West gibsland Town of drwan but Russell relished his time in The Great
Outdoors a former forestry worker who later worked as a truck driver Russell had embraced camping even more after
entering retire enironment he was an experienced Outdoorsman and still relatively fit for his age though he
moved more deliberately than he had as a younger man his wife Robin didn't mind that
Russell often went camping without her he had struggled after he stopped working confiding in a few close friends
that his new phase of life was more difficult than anticipated they had suggested he'd take
up Hobbies such as p for gold or joining a social men's club but these suggestions hadn't worked out traveling
out into the Wilderness however seemed to be something that helped him early on the morning of Thursday
March 19 2020 Robin helped her husband Packy's bags including a bottle of bunder BG rum and some cans of cougar
Bourbon and Coke she waved him off at 7:00 a.m. as he cheerfully drove away in his 2017
white Toyota Land Cruiser four-wheel drive the Land Cruiser had been expertly fitted out for Russell's adventures and
was ideal for driving to the one andata Valley considered one of the iconic drives in the Victorian High Country the
journey included striking panoramic views and challenging four-wheel drive tracks Russell wounded the Land Cruiser
through laola a small town on the banks of the mallister River before facing the
more challenging tracks which were only accessible to wall terrain vehicles this was Russell's
territory during his work as a forestry worker he'd helped build many of these tracks including the notoriously tricky
zika spur despite the remoteness of the location Russell's Journey didn't go unnoticed multiple people in the area
saw Russell's vehicle including a weed sprayer named Robert Williams who was working along a
track Robert admired the Land Cruiser as it approached noting that it was fitted
out with the custommade canopy but was less impressed when Russell roared past him without a customary greeting or
friendly wave Robert had reason to be wary of strangers in the valley the day before
he'd encountered what he described as a creepy fellow dressed in in a singlet shorts and
Gators the man had pulled up in a four-wheel drive hauling a trailer his clothes stained with sweat and asked
about camping spots Robert and his fellow sprayers had a joke to Darkly about the man's
resemblance to Infamous Australian serial killer Ivan Mt whose crimes were covered in episode 109 of case
File later Robert spotted the same vehicle at a nearby camp ground known as Buck's Camp which was a small group of
sites on Dry River it was reversed deep into the bushes with only its bullbar visible as
though its owner wished to remain [Music] unseen as Russell Hill neared the end of
his drive to the wangata valley he was followed for a Time by two friends who had traveled down from Sydney to spend a
few days foraging for mushrooms frustrated by Russell's slower driving the two men tried to overtake him
without success they were relieved when the Land Cruiser finally turned into bucks
Camp the Bucks campsite held personal significance to Russell Hill 25 years earlier Russell's cousin
Gary Hill had been in the area hunting with his nephew during this ill- faded trip
Gary's nephew had mist Aken his uncle for a deer and shot at him with his 35 caliber
rifle the shot was fatal and Gary died instantly the shooting was ruled accidental with Gary's nephew blaming
Buck Fever a term to describe a hunter's rash impulse to shoot but the death left its mark on the
hill family and a white cross had been installed at nearby Hilly's Camp to commemorate
Gary if featured a memorial plaque engraved with the warning not every stag under a rub tree is a
deer the tragedy had shaped Russell Hill's views on Firearms he'd surrendered his inherited shotgun during
a gun amnesty and never owned another yet Russell's respect for gun safety didn't extend to other
regulations he brazenly ignored prohibitions on cutting snow gum for firewood dismissing Rangers warnings
with a Curt I don't give a [ __ ] he'd also brought along a mavic drone the use of which violated the park
rule about Flying Without permits Russell camped by his own code Russell parked his Land Cruiser
just left of the Bucks Camp entrance there was one other campsite already set up in the prime spot next
next to the River entrance so he'd have to make do with a less desirable spot Inland Russell insisted on top of the
range Camp gear and had packed a black wolf turbo tent a portable fridge freezer sturdy chairs and a proper
table instead of sleeping on the ground in a sleeping bag he had a comfortable mattress with a blue
Duna he even used a toilet tent instead of a drop dunny setting it up in front of the land Cruiser's Bonnet and
securing it to the bullbar to protect against sudden gusts of wind Russell's entire approach was that
of a seasoned and experienced camper not one to rely on smartphone apps he carried paper maps in his
vehicle including hunting Zone charts that marked permitted seasons and weapons across the Alpine
region in order to stay in contact with others while away Russell indulged in his true passion amateur
radio this was more than just a simple hobby for Russell he'd sat for five different examinations to obtain the
license that allowed him to operate across the high frequency channels used for ham radio
communications Russell had a sophisticated setup that he took everywhere a home radio complemented by
the portable unit in his car's console powered by its own dedicated battery PVC pipes that housed antenna wires ran
along the underside of the Land Cruisers canopy curving to the roof their joints
secured with gaffet tape known as the antenna guy among his mates Russell had perfected the art of
stringing wires through the highest tree branches using weighted lines to achieve
the ideal 10 to 20 M elevation for Clear transmission every evening at 6 the CL Russell joined a tight-nit group of
fellow amateur radio enthusiasts on frequency 3.67 5 for their half hour net a ritual that was not only social but a
form of safety check for those who were Beyond a mobile phone range his wife Robin would often listen
in on these chats as a way to keep in touch and up toate with her husband's travels
[Music] the following day of Friday March 20 Russell Hill was seen by other campers his drone was also spotted by
weed sprayer Robert Williams who was still working in the area at around 5:00 p.m. Robert noticed
the Drone circling directly over his head he wasn't a fan of the flying robots although they could take good
photographs for their users and provide information about the surrounding ter rain Robert found their loud buzzing
sound rude and disruptive to the Tranquility of the Bush Russell's purchase of the mavic
Drone had also surprised some of his friends as he wasn't typically someone who was interested in higher
gadgets but it was a hobby Russell had seemed enthusiastic about and he'd even named the new Gadget calling it
Fred the Drone was a sophisticated and expensive piece equipment which Russell controlled through a smartphone
interface the open one andata Valley provided perfect conditions for him to explore via the unmanned aerial
vehicle as the Drone circled Robert Williams several times filming him with its camera he waved up at it the Drone
dipped in acknowledgement then flew off it continued to hover nearby for about 35 to 40 minutes before
disappearing Downstream not long after this at 6:00 p.m. Russell joined his regular evening
amateur radio net using his call sign vk3 vzp he reported he'd been having transmission
issues but sounded positive overall his last conversation was with mate Rob Ashlin discussing possible
routes toward the nearby town of dgo Russell signed off at 6:40 p.m. Rob would delay to say that he'd
sounded as happy as a piging [ __ ] Russell missed the next evening's scheduled call his amateur radio group
wasn't concerned as equipment troubles weren't unusual and he'd mentioned transmission problems the previous
day but two more days passed without any contact from Russell during their nightly Nets the radio
enthusiasts called out to their friend asking him if he'd fallen asleep as the days wore on their jokes
turned to concern as they were met with only static in reply by Friday March 27 a week had
passed since Russell had last checked in with his radio buddies Rob Ashlin could no longer
ignore his unees he contacted Russell's wife Robin she confirmed that she hadn't
heard from her husband since listening in on his final radio conversation the same evening Rob had last spoken with
him when Russell failed to return home that day Robin reported him missing advising police that she was worried as
he was alone and it was unusual for him to be out of contact for so long two senior police constables from
the town of ma AFA headed to the wetta valley Russell's last unnown location after checking the General
Store at laa they combed local campsites but found no trace of the missing man they alerted the people they came
across to watch for signs of a lone elderly camper while beginning their investigation into Russell Hill's
disappearance the police came across a tip that had been reported sever days earlier a man named Andrew marwad had
notified authorities that he'd come across a burnout campsite on Saturday March 21 the morning after Russell was
last heard from on Saturday March 28 the day after Russell was reported missing officers
set off for Buck's Camp to follow up on the lead what they found confirmed their
worst fears a white Land Cruiser matching Russel the campsite itself was a wasteland of
Twisted Metal and Ash covering a precise 3 m Square in the middle were the charred
remnants of Russell's tent mattress table and camp chairs the toilet tent Russell had set
up in front of his Land Cruiser was mostly undamaged though its Zips had melted anesi beneath the vehicle was
also intact the fire Fire's intensity puzzled investigators though it had consumed
everything within reach the esy and the Land Cruisers tires were unmarked suggesting an accelerent fueled Blaze
that had been deliberately contained neither smartphones nor Russell's drone were found among the
debris though an older mobile phone sat in the UT's center [Music] console through the vehicle's Windows
police officers spotted not one but two open wallets both had been stripped of cash
and credit cards and their contents scattered across both footwells while one wallet confirmed
Russell Hills identity the other containing a health insurance card and a driver's license Drew
Intrigue it belonged to someone named Carol clay a woman no one had reported missing Russell's family hadn't
mentioned he was camping with anyone the discovery forced investigators to confront an uncomfortable
reality they weren't looking for one missing person but [Music] two 73-year-old Carol clay resided in
the outer Melbourne suburb of pakenham a former president of the country women's
Association or CWA Carol Spearhead headed a diverse range of programs and actively sought to recruit younger
members telling the pacam Gazette on the cwa's 85th Anniversary that it was a modern Organization of Women looking out
for women her tenure as president saw her rubbing shoulders with dignitaries at government house traversing Australia
and the South Pacific for conferences and holding positions on the boards of several high-profile organizations
in 2018 Carol's tireless efforts were recognized when she was inducted as a member of honor of the
CWA Carol's influence extended far beyond the association she volunteered with Hospital auxiliaries and the Red Cross
and sat on various committees she was also so well known for her baking that she was in high
demand for lessons and demonstrations generous with her time if a friend was sick Carol would be there
every day dropping off Hardy meals until they got better described by one friend as a
glamour Queen Carol was never seen without her signature red lipstick stylish still gray hair and pearl
earrings though her children had grown and had families of their own she remained actively involved in their
lives doting on her grandchildren from her newly downsized House near the shops and train
station the discovery of Carol's wallet in an abandoned Ute nearly 400 kilm away
at bucks Camp was both puzzling and deeply concerning police now faced the difficult task of advising Carol's
daughter Emma that her mother had disappeared seemingly while in the company of 74-year-old Russell
Hill the news came as a shock to Emma she had known her mother was away camping but Carol wasn't expected home
until the following day of Sunday March 29 the fact that Carol had been with Russell however was not a
surprise the pair had known each other since they were teenagers and Russell had been Carol's first
boyfriend they'd ultimately broken up and married other people but stayed in touch Russell and his wife Robin had
even attended Carol's first wedding however Russell had lied to Robin introducing Carl to her as his
cousin Robin had believed at this ruse for years it wasn't until the early 2000s
during joint camping trips with Carol and her then husband Linton that Robin noticed how Russell and Carol would
frequently break away from the group for private walks though this made her uneasy Robin
pushed her doubts aside wanting to believe in her husband's Fidelity the deception unraveled when a
neighbor confronted Russell after witnessing Carol's visits whenever Robin was away the neighbor gave Russell an
ultimatum confess to Robin or she would expose the affair herself backed into a corner Russell
admitted everything to Robin and their daughters swearing to end the relation ship and repair his
marriage Robin had believed him but the affair had secretly continued Russell's solo camping trips
provided perfect cover for his and Carol's continued Liaisons he maintained the facade with a
separate burner phone registered in Carol's name ensuring no suspicious bills would reach
home the couple spoke of separating from their respective partner to be together
but only Carol ultimately went through with it she divorced her husband to be with Russell and told her daughter Emma
about the affair Emma felt awkward knowing about the relationship but her mother assured
her that it was very caring and loving Carol had also confided in one of her sisters and a
friend she appeared content with the arrangement which allowed her to maintain an intimate relationship as
well as her independence in the aftermath of her divorce most of the time Russell and
Carol spent together was on their clandestine camping trips although camping hadn't always been an interest
of Carol's she embraced the Pastime if it meant spending time with Russell their routine of private
getaways was broken only once in January 2019 when Russell suggested meeting his
friend Jim Francis Jim was traveling around Australia in his Caravan when Russell
called warning that he'd be bringing a woman who wasn't his wife though surprised Jim didn't
pry the trio camped together for two weeks to Jim Russell and Carol seemed like any other couple freely sharing
their history around the campfire Carol had been on another camping trip with Russell for
Valentine's Day one month before their one andar Expedition as she prepared to leave with
Russell again in mid-march Carol asked some neighbors to water her plants until she returned on Sunday March
29 on the morning the couple left for their trip Russell was seen loading Carol's bags into the boot of his Land
Cruiser Carol got into the vehicle carrying a pink floral overnight bag and a clear plastic bag holding three large
large lever Arch folders full of CWA materials Carol had made two phone calls during the journey and had been cited
both in the Land Cruiser and at bucks Camp while Russell collected firewood maintained the solar setup and secured
the site Carol managed the camp kitchen as Russell operated his drone or amateur radio Carol would
read she always made sure to keep quiet during Russell's 6 p.m. radio chats so no one listening in would know she was
there to the other campers who encountered them Russell and Carol seemed like any other ordinary older
couple after finding the burnt out campsite and confirming that Carol had been with Russell investigators informed
The Hill Family that not only had Russell gone missing in unsettling and suspicious circumstances he'd been
having an affair despite their personal shock both families agreed to Media appeals on Sunday March 29 police
announced the search for the elderly pair citing concerns about their welfare and lack of
contact the media statement had the intended effect Witnesses came forward including weed sprayer Robert Williams
who reported seeing Russell's drone in the area before he went missing the Drone had been conspicuously
absent from the campsite Andrew marwat forwarded on the photographs he'd taken of the burnt site
and another witness also made contact Nicholas Lindon had been camping in the wetta valley with his 11-year-old
son on Wednesday March 25 2 days before Russell was reported missing the father and son had been walking
Downstream after fishing when they came across the charred campsite it was a disturbing sight and
the following day when Nicholas had a mobile reception again he reported the discovery to police in the Northeast
city of wangara unfortunately his report had gotten lost among paperwork and wasn't
passed on to the relevant station medeor interest in the story took off when Robin Hill publicly
confirmed that she had originally believed her missing husband was camping alone what began as a missing person's
case became a tabloid sensation the tale of a CWA star warts secret romance with a married man turned
their High Country disappearance into front page news meanwhile the investigation kicked
up a gear [Music] police deployed drones and helicopters while dog squads and Mountain Cattlemen
scoured the dense scrub below initial theories centered on misadventure even skilled Bushmen could
lose their bearings in thick vegetation investigators focused on Russell's missing drone wondering if
perhaps he'd wandered off searching for the expensive device with Carol following maybe one or both of them got
hurt and the other was unable to find their way back to raise the alarm after 10 days wild weather forced
operations to Halt while emerging covid-19 restrictions hampered efforts to Marshall large volunteer search
parties the pandemic's first wave hit Victoria just as Russell and Carol went missing investigators focused on the
couple's final known movements according to Russell's friend Rob Ashlin he had seemed relaxed during his last
radio contact at 6:40 pm. whatever happened to Russell and Carol had occurred between then and
Andrew marquart's Discovery the next morning when weather cleared on Tuesday April 14 Searchers returned to explore
rougher terrain but 3 weeks had passed and hope of finding the couple alive live was
fading the missing person Squad took charge conducting standard Proof of Life checks through banks hospitals and phone
records no evidence emerged of accessed bank accounts active phones or a second vehicle detectives gathered DNA samples
and investigated Financial records including insurance policies though reports occasionally
surface the vly couples matching Russell and Carol's descriptions none proved credible by Wednesday April 22 Russell
Hill and Carol clay had been missing for a little over a month police notified the public that
their hopes of finding the couple alive had dimmed potential Witnesses were urged to
come forward and assured that they wouldn't face covid-19 fines for camping during
restrictions both families released statements expressing their anguish Russell's family described him
as our brother husband dad and Par while Carol's family emphasized The Disappearance was very out of character
as the pair were well prepared and Russell knew the area well police appealed for Witnesses who
had been in the region between March 19 and 24 various accounts emerged Road workers reported an
erratically driven white twin cab Ute diesel had been siphoned from machinery and most intriguingly there were reports
of a midnight encounter the night Russell and Carol vanished Tom Matthews who had been
camping a few kilometers southeast of buck Camp recalled being awoken around midnight on Friday March 20 by an older
model four-wheel drive towing a rily old trailer the vehicle stopped at the river
Crossings road closed sign having seemingly not realized they wouldn't have access to the
road the driver then performed a difficult U-turn and departed Tom experienced in Bush sounds
and vehicles found the late hour activity highly unusual as the case spread online new
sites and social media buzzed with theories some were far-fetched such as the suggestion that people who
disapproved of the affair had sent a Hitman after the couple police dismissed this notion
altogether other Theory seemed more plausible like the idea that the couple had staged their disappearance to run
away together but both Russell and Carol were financially secure with close family
ties making an elaborate plan unlikely a friend of Carol's also told the television program a current affair
that Carol wouldn't have intentionally disappeared as she had been eagerly planning a cruise with her
sister police also dismissed to this Theory given the lack of activity on their bank
accounts another theory posited was that of a murder suicide three Hunters who recognized
Russell from news coverage came forward to say they'd met him at nearby King Billy number two campsite a week before
his disappearance they described Russell as a knockabout sort of guy who'd asked
permission to fly his drone near their Camp the hunters noted Russell's expertise with his drone and dedication
to his Radio setup when he mentioned building the zika spur track they sensed pride in his
former work though friendly Russell revealed a darker side when discussing retirement now I'm retired and it really
[ __ ] me up he told them his comments about retirement and home life concerned them enough to
suggest suicide to investigators while police considered their observations they found no other
evidence suggesting Russell was suicidal let alone capable of involving Carol in
such a plan but forensic evidence did indicate that something violent had happened to
the couple Russell and Carol's DNA had been found throughout Russell's Land Cruiser
there was blood on the driver's armrest and DNA recovered from a map under the passenger
seat there were also six blood stains on the inside of Russell's vehicle canopy that matched Carol's
DNA there had long been whispering that something sinister was happening in Victoria's High
Country although strikingly beautiful the region has somewhat of a dark history near where Russell and Carol had
gone missing stood one andata station where station manager James barklay was found shot dead in
1917 the simultaneous disappearance of his cook John Bamford led to Bamford becoming the prime suspect until he was
discovered months later with a bullet in his head these murders were never solved more recently several
high-profile disappearances have occurred in the region in 2008 57-year-old father Warren
Meyer went missing Without a Trace during a day hike despite an extensive search
effort 3 years later former prison Governor David prau disappeared while deer hunting sparking speculation about
possible Revenge killings in 2018 the body of Trace Lee Whitaker was found alongside strange
items but her cause of death remained undetermined and in 2019 experienced hiker Niles Becker vanished during a
planned track joining a growing list of those who entered the High Country and never
[Music] returned the high country's unforgiving elements play a role in concealing
evidence and thwarting investigations extreme weather treacherous terrain and a dense
vegetation can easily obscure trails and hide remains there are also concerns that the
Region's isolation Harbors illicit activities like illegal cannabis Farms which could potentially be linked to
some disappearances while tragic accidents are certainly possible given the risks
the repeated failure to find any trace of those who have gone missing fueled suspicions that more Sinister forces may
be at work among High Country locals there are persistent Tales of what they call Hill
People former miners who have retreated Into the Wilderness to live Untouched by
society as detectives investigated The Disappearance of Russell Hill and Carol clay there was one character who kept
recurring in their information reports the so-called Button Man described as an elderly but athletic
man the button man had wiry weathered skin covered in tattoos and Bone stretched earlobes that gave him an
otherworldly appearance he had established a camp on a remote mountain side which allowed him
to observe visitors entering the park and cap count of ag1 by Building Stone pyramids to mark their
passage the reports painted the picture of an unsettling figure who appeared to take pleasure in intimidating campers
and hikers the button man's Monica came from his traditional Bushcraft of fashioning
buttons from deer bones and aners Witnesses reported he had an unnerving gaze and could quote easily
dispose of bodies his reputation grew through reports of disconcerting encounters the button man's interactions
with campers followed a pattern he would silently materialize at their campfires
steer conversations to troubling topics and sometimes offered to show off his axe
collection his presence was felt even when unseen as local Bushmen found their hidden firewood supplies and food
rations raided overnight more and more stories spread a sleeping Marine had woken to
find a tent erected noiselessly beside him during the night another camper woke to find
mysterious photographs on their mobile phones camera roll others found inexplicable ski
tracks leading from their campsite away into the Alpine distance detectives working the hill and
clay case were able to track down the almost Mythic character to his camp and found him to be quite different from the
stories that had sprung up about him he had been Cooperative phone records placed him far from where
Russell and Carol disappeared and he never became a serious suspect yet the media's fascination had
already taken hold with tabloids branding the button man as spooky and bloody scary
locals defended him they knew him as an eccentric but civil Bushman who asked only for
privacy the button man has been tried found guilty and hung out to dry by Metro media wrote a journalist for the
Mansfield CER the publicity proved devastating tourists flocked to the area in search of the butterman's sanctuary
forcing him into temporary relocation though investigators cleared him he had become an urban legend distracting from
the real mystery of Russell and Carol's fate when Victoria entered winter the one and Gat Valley grew more forbidding
putting a halt to physical searches for the couple though the searches paused investigators pursued every other lead
including alleged sightings at supermarkets that were checked against CCTV footage detectives also looked into
reports of a reclusive illegal Hunter with security cameras and an unsolved death in his
past phone data quickly eliminated him as a suspect but detectives suspected that hunting might have still played a
role in the case the High Country attracted both legal and illegal Hunters pursuing SAR
Deere who antlers attracted higher prices while stalking was permitted year round strict regulations prohibited
hunting near campsites and Spotlight hunting High Country muster llan cakin had helped in the search for Russell and
Carol and noticed an unusually high number of deer carcasses with aners removed this seemed to indicate that
there was illegal poaching going on the sporting Shooters Association expressed concern about organized
poaching operations stating these criminals are labeled as Hunters when they are nothing more than criminals
carrying out a legal activity detectives wondered if perhaps Russell had captured evidence of illegal
hunting on his drone leading to a confrontation France had described Russell as someone who didn't take crap
from anyone making it plausible that he could find himself in an altercation an alternative possibility
was that either Russell or Carol had been mistaken for prey through unclear thermal imaging equipment and
accidentally shot the panicked Hunters might then have eliminated Witnesses and destroyed
evidence but without any proof of such crimes detectives had nothing to support their theories
a year passed without answers a brief spark of hope flared in March 2021 when a drone matching Russell
was found in the area but investigators confirmed it was not his kadava dog searched the rugged
terrain again yet still found nothing Russell's wife Robin told the Australian newspaper she believed her
husband was dead but hoped the pair would be found to quote face the music the country women's Association
apparently finding the entire situation distasteful quietly removed Carol's name
from their honor [Music] rooll police publicly stated that they believed that the couple was dead and
had been the victims of fair play they also made an appeal for information about their most puzzling
lead during their investigation they had been able to identify almost every vehicle that had been in the area when
Russell and Carol went missing all but one and niss and Patrol possibly white hadn't been tracked
down in April 2021 investigators suddenly shifted their focus to mount hotham 80 km Northwest of the burnt
campsite where they retrieved two shovels designed for moving loose material police were tight lipped about
the the shovel significance following this the case dropped from the headlines once again
and seemed destined to fade into mystery until 6 months later in October 2021 when police announced they were
making significant Headway soon after advertisements ran for an episode of current affairs
program 60 Minutes that would be covering the case tantalizing sound by it suggested
that police were finally closing in on a resolution on Sunday November 7th 60 Minutes aired what appeared to be a
simple recap featuring Russell's daughters Debbie and Colleen and Carol's sister
Jill but detective inspector Andrew Stamper had an ace to play Central to this case are these
roadside cameras he revealed indicating footage from the Valley's access roads we've accounted for every vehicle that
left that weekend except one that vehicle a dark blue mid90s niss Patrol with distinctive modifications
had now become their primary focus the grainy image showed only a side view its occupants and number plate
unclear this Revelation appeared related to investigators earlier appeals for an
identified niss and Patrol though that vehicle had been described as possibly being
white Russell's daughter Debbie made a roar appeal to the public stating if someone watching knows what
happened surely your conscience is telling you that you need to speak up even if it's only a tiny thing even
if you only have a slight suspicion you need to come forward so both our families can put this to
rest a month after Russell Hill and Carol clay went missing in March 2020 the missing person Squad took over the
case with detectives Brett Florence and Abby Justin taking the lead they began trying to trace the
couple's possible movements of via technology two months in detective Florence obtained Russell's phone
records the data revealed crucial information about Russell's movements on the day he went
missing between 9:26 a.m. and 9:50 a.m. on the day the burnt out campsite was discovered Russell's phone briefly
connected to Towers along the nearby great Alpine Road a more than 300 km Road through Eastern
Victoria because it connects to multiple ski resorts the road features automatic
number plate recognition cameras installed to monitor Resort access permits analysis of the number plate
data showed 12 Vehicles had passed through During the period when Russell's phone
connected by late June detectives had isolated one vehicle of particular interest a four-wheel drive wagon towing
a trailer the timing aligned with witness Tom Matthews report of being woken in in
the middle of the night by a four-wheel drive and trailer attempting an awkward U-turn after encountering a closed Road
in the middle of the night two cameras had captured the vehicle while one showed only a blurred
side view the other had captured the number plate clearly it was registered to a white
nent Patrol though the footage showed what appeared to be a darker colored vehicle possibly
blue the owner his name was Gregory Lynn and he resided in the suburb of Caroline
Springs 20 km west of Melbourne on Tuesday July 14 2020 detectives Florence and Justin paid a
visit to Lynn's home in the driveway sat a nent patrol bearing the number plate from the
footage but rather than the white of its registration or blue as captured on camera the vehicle was beige
detective Justin activated her recording device as Florence knocked on the front
door a middle-aged man answered and detective Florence assured him he wasn't in any trouble they were simply making
some inquiries relating to the missing old couple up in the one and G area they were following up with
everyone whose cars had placed them in the region at the time Gregory Lynn was polite and well
spoken as he invited Ed them inside when asked why his vehicle wasn't white as per its registration Lynn
explained that he' painted it blue in 2016 after returning from Central Australia 4 years later in 2020 he'
painted at beige as a CO project with his children using leftover julu metal shield in sandbank color he'd had
handy when asked about the trailer he had been Towing a 7x4 ft box trailer Lynn told them he had sold it months
earlier via the classified website of Gumtree along with a van he'd owned and an antique sleigh
bed it was all part of a lockdown inspired spring clean the buyer was quote an Asian man
but Lynn couldn't recall his name or location when asked about his trip to the wetta valley in March 2020 ly's
account placed him at different campsites on different dates to Russell and Carol he denied ever seeing the elderly
couple the detectives deliberately withheld their knowledge about the correlation between his vehicle's
movements and Russell's phone data when detectives Florence and Justin left Lynn's home that day they turned
their attention to finding out everything they could about Gregory Lynn Gregory Stewart Lynn was a 55-year-old
commercial airline pilot decades earlier he'd worked for the now defunct Australian Airline
anet while he came across as charismatic some of Lynn's co-workers had found him
unsettling one described him as a dead set weirdo with a wicked temper Lynn had married a woman named
Lisa who was a flight attendant and colleag they built a sprawling family home in
Mount Madan had two sons and inspired by the movie Babe bought a piglet they named
pig to Outsiders it seemed idilic behind closed doors a darker story emerged Lisa's family and friends
described Gregory Lynn as increasingly controlling and abusive Lisa's mother would later detail
frequent incidents of physical and mental abuse she said that on one occasion Lynn had exploded into a fit of
uncontrollable rage after another man spoke to Lisa and her mother while they were out for dinner at a
pub he verbally attacked the man in the bar then redirected his rage at Lisa after they
left a former neighbor later told 60 Minutes about a punishment Meed out by Gregory Lynn when Lisa had drunk too
much Lynn's own unsworn statement corroborated this account he described wanting to teach
Lisa a lesson for her drunkenness I bound her hands and feet with masking tape and carried her
outside into the backyard I put her near the back steps and hosed her down with water from a
garden H and she got extremely cold I agree this action was quite unusual but my intentions were for her
to never drink to excess like that again Lisa was left to freeze overnight the allegations grew more
Sinister after Pig dug up Lynn's prized plants Lynn allegedly killed the Beloved
pet with an axe leaving its head on the doorstep for Lisa to find neighbors reported finding their
dog strung up on their fence its throat slit after Lynn had complained about its
barking in another incident he allegedly killed a stray Pig with a shovel when it
wandered onto his property the marriage crumbled after Lisa discovered photos confirming Lynn's
affair with another flight attendant in his Pilot bag Lisa subsequently sought help
through the family court for child maintenance an inm intervention order was imposed osed in March 1999
preventing Lynn from assaulting harassing or threatening Lisa he would later plead guilty to
breaching this order twice once by breaking in and stealing the family car purposely leaving Lisa
stranded though Lisa documented the abuse in her diary she feared pressing charges on Tuesday October 26th 1999 she
was found a dead in their mount mcad Garden the coroner found she had died from a combination of prescription drugs
and alcohol with a blood alcohol reading of 21 no suicide note was found and Gregory
Lynn had a solid Alibi however Lisa's family never believed she would take her own life
citing her religious beliefs and Devotion to her children after Lisa's death her parents fought
desperately for custody of their grandchildren however Gregory Lynn maintained custody of his children and
emerged financially secure from property settlements following his father's death
and the collapse of anet airlines in 2001 Lynn moved his sons overseas to Qatar where he met Melanie his second
wife returning to Australia in 2007 Lynn joined jet star Airways rising to check
and training Captain a prestigious position that involved conducting flight proficiency tests and certifying other
Pilots competency colleagues described him as methodical and precise essential traits
for the role that same year Gregory and Melanie Lynn welcomed their own child between flying jobs Lynn had
worked as an asparagus picker and as a river guide in Tasmania his passion for the outdoors
saw him regularly camping and fishing alone often sleeping under the stars rather than in a
tent for Lynn membership in Elite outdoor clubs formed a crucial part of his identity he enjoyed shooting and was
particularly proud about being a member of the Little River Raiders for single action shooting club and the Melbourne
International shooting club his acceptance in to exclusive clubs and prestigious memberships were
Badges of Pride that he guarded jealously his latest Outdoor Pursuit was beekeeping which began as a CO
project he and Melanie tended their backyard Hive in white protective suits until one day the bees penetrated his
mask the resulting allergic reaction threw his heart out of rhythm requiring four adrenaline shots and
hospitalization grounded from flying until his heart stabilized he took on duties in
simulation training the more detectives discovered about Gregory Lynn the more they
questioned the wisdom of him having been responsible for safely transporting hundreds of airline passengers at a
time it was lucky the bees had grounded him or they might have had to step in between July and December 2020
investigators continued connecting Gregory Lynn to the hill and Clay case Peace by
piece they tracked his financial records finding that fuel receipts placed him in
the area at the crucial time they also gathered additional footage from CCTV cameras and
interviewed Witnesses though the evidence was circumstantial it was enough to convince
a court to Grant warrants for phone taps and surveillance devices pandemic restrictions meant the
linnn family was at home a lot more and prevented investigators from waiting until their house was
empty instead a specialist team crept into the houseold in the dead of night while the family
slept they planted listening devices throughout the rooms and car then vanished leaving Gregory Melanie and
their son none the wiser the surveillance quickly revealed Lynn's habit of talking to himself especially
while driving he muttered cryptically about little old people about courts and who
got to decide what was right and wrong and the supposed persecution of white people he also wondered aloud about why
ballistics experts hadn't requested samples of his ammunition after the bugs revealed that
and his wife Melanie regularly watched the current affairs show 60 Minutes investigators came up with a
plan they orchestrated a special episode with the show's producers with the aim of provoking
Lynn on the evening of Sunday November 7 2021 detectives listened intently as the
sound of the distinctive 60 Minutes clock ticked through the Lyn's Lounge room speakers when a grainy photo photograph
and artist sketch of the suspect vehicle appeared on screen showing a distinctive
warning melan's laughter rang out in a loud cackle it looks like your car it really
does she said the police had deliberately withheld their clear number plate photo it's not funny sweet pee Lynn
responded his voice had an edge to it shortly after an outdoor surveillance camera captured Gregory Lynn removing
the awning from his car despite the mounting evidence investigators still lacked their Smoking
Gun they had no bodies no motive and no direct evidence linking Lynn to Russell Hill or Carol
Clay on Monday November 22 2021 one Lynn left for another solo camping trip he had told friends he was heading
to the grampians but instead he drove towards one and Gad the area where Russell and Carol had gone
missing a detective monitoring the bug in Lyn's car grew increasingly alarmed at what he
heard Lynn spoke tearfully in the past tense about his wife being left with three
children his musings about mortality became more specific a snake bite he suggested would be a good way to
go the combination of his armed State remote destination and increasingly dark thoughts forced the investigator's
hands a decision was made to intercept Lynn before he reached his destination police deployed the Special
Operations group or S so Victoria police's Elite Tactical Unit theog was typically reserved for armed
offenders or terrorism incidents deploying them for a missing person's arrest was
unprecedented but Lynn's situation warranted the risk when theog stormed Lynn's camp with
their guns drawn they found him preparing dinner he calmly denied carrying weapons
though they found his forgotten Damascus knife in a sheath during the pat down Lynn was arrested and driven a 2
and 1/ half hour Journey to the regional city of s for questioning Lynn was calm and relaxed
during the drive saying he didn't want a lawyer he said he was looking forward to
sorting the situation out than returning to his camp but after a 2-hour interview that
night during which he denied knowing anything about Russell Hill or Carol clay Lynn appeared to change his
mind he consulted a legal counsel by phone and the following morning he adopted their advice to respond no
comment to any questions the detectives pressed on presenting maps and photos questioning
his vehicle's movements Lynn occasionally broke his silence at one point accusing them of
playing games before returning to his refrain of no comment when and questioning turned to
his trailer Lynn's composure cracked I can see where this is going he said well you think I've done it and I
haven't detectives continued to press Lyn encouraging him that talking was in his best
interest they reassured him that they didn't think he was a bad person stating it's not like you've gone out of
the Bush to kill anyone but when somebody comes into your space it's an invasion you think I'd kill someone over
a campsite Lynn asked no but there's been some disagreement one of the detectives
suggested there's been something that has gone wrong and if the person has fallen over hit his head that's not to
say that you've murdered a person for the entire day Lynn maintained his silence then on the third day after
another consultation with legal aids he stunned detectives by announcing I'm going to ignore my
solicitor's advice and tell you what happened right from scratch Gregory Lynn requested paper and
sketched a calendar of events his story began on Monday March 16 2020 when he arrived in the High
Country late at at night heading for the Howard Hut campsite finding it full he asked the
nearby family for Alternatives they directed him to Vallejo west of the zika spur track a
remote area accessible only by four-wheel drive after Brief Encounters with a friendly Ranger with a beard and weed
sprayers Lynn settled at Buck's Camp he had two days of solitude before a white Land Cruiser skidded into the
entrance Lynn noticed the female passenger's alarmed expression and watched as another white four-wheel
drive slowed behind them its passenger glaring at the Land Cruiser before speeding
away the land Cruiser's elderly driver Russell Hill emerged chatty and very jovial he explained how these donkeys
had been pursuing him into the valley attempting to overtake and hooning onto the grass forcing him to race to the
campsite though Russell set up camp closer than etiquette suggested Lynn claimed he wasn't
bothered it's a free country he thought to himself Lynn drew the detectives a diagram showing the thick Forest River
and both camps his site was in Prime position near the water Russell and His companion
Carol clay had settled just inside the entrance near the drop toilet with a Lone Tree between
them the next morning as Lynn prepared for deer hunting Russell approached to say he liked the deer and was actually
in the area to remember a friend who had been killed deer hunting Lynn recalled Carol adding from
behind accidentally killed while Russell stared at him with hostility though Disturbed Lynn left to
hunt returning empty-handed he was unloading his gun when a drone buzzed overhead I only had gazed on it for a
couple of seconds and then whoosh it moved like gone he said passing their Camp he saw Russell
with the controller the Drone briefly rising to Y level before landing concerned about being filmed
Lynn confronted Russell whose demeanor had shifted dramatically Russell accused Lynn of firing his gun
through their camp and threatened to show police the Drone footage that's just ridiculous Lynn
replied he believed Russell was trying to force him from the prime Riverside camping spot hoping he would pack up and
leave Lynn's response was by his own admission childish he opened the doors of his niss
and Patrol and blasted music from my era not his choosing the most irritating songs
possible his Firearms a rifle and a barram arms straight pool shotgun lay packed in gun bags on the back seat with
ammunition on the front after blaring music for hours Darkness had fallen when Lynn heard a
rustling sound he looked up to see Russell walking away from Lynn's car with his
shotgun loading the magazine into it when Lynn demanded its return Russell replied [ __ ] off and fired shots into
the air Lynn took cover in the darkness behind Russell's Land Cruiser he described crouching in the
shadows as Russell approached him he heard Carol yell Russell stop it when the shotgun barrel appeared over
the Bonnet Lynn lunged grabbing it with his right hand the two men rustled across the vehicle's
bullar Russell's finger was on the trigger when the gun discharged the shot traveling through the left side mirror
and straight into Carol Clay's head as she cowered beside the vehicle Russell released the shotgun as
he ran to attend to his lover Lynn returned to his Camp firing once to ensure the weapon was safe
before stowing it out of Harm's Way as he turned around Lynn saw Russell bearing down on him a knife in his right
hand screaming she's dead Lynn described the ensuing struggle in detail his defensive stance blocking
Russell's left-handed swing grabbing the knife hand as Russell pushed forward they fell
together the knife pierced Russell's chest and the men rolled before Lynn got clear Russell crawled a short distance
before collapsing Face [Music] Down by some extraordinary stroke of Fate Russell had fallen onto his own
knife at precisely the perfect angle the blade positioned laterally through his chest just right of the
sternum checking Russell's Vital Signs confirmed he was dead Carol was also clearly dead half
her skull was missing standing between their bodies Panic overwhelmed Lynn although he claimed the deaths were
accidental his thoughts immediately turned to the consequences that would follow losing his firearms license would
mean losing his Aviation Security card and his Pilot's career from there he'd lose his mortgage
his family's Financial Security and his beloved exclusive Club memberships as Lynn told
investigators an event like that I would just be instantly banned for life and this at a time when I was
actually just finding a really happy place in the world with family career and my personal life outside of work and
so this for me was a disaster terrified of having his life ruined he decided to cover up the
couple's death since then Lynn concealed Russell and Carol's bodies under his trailer's wooden top
before methodically sanitizing the scene worried that the couple's tent might contain contaminated items he DED it
with petrol and set it a light he scattered their wallets cards and contents to suggest robbery Removed the
damaged mirror and burned his blooded clothes a closed Road disrupted his plan to Escape Route forcing an awkward
U-turn later noted by a witness Lynn recounted a tense long night drive to Union spur track an
overgrown and seemingly abandoned Road where he left the bodies covered Loosely with
sticks Lynn then drove to Lake Buffalo's southern end to dispose of the couple's
mobile phones stopped in Mansfield for fuel then spent the night at Big River where he burned Russell's
drone the next day after washing his trailer in Hillsville he headed home his wife Melanie distracted by
emerging covid lockdown news didn't ask about his trip so he didn't mention leaving two bodies on Union spur
track as covid restrictions dominated headlines alongside reports of the missing campers Lynn waited daily for
news of the body's discovery it never came during a brief easing of lockdown restrictions on Wednesday May 13 2020 he
returned to Union spur track to check on the remains after 54 days the bodies remained untouched but were badly
decomposed surprisingly no animals had interfered Lynn added more sticks and rocks before leaving
even though Lynn hadn't been under surveillance then he became increasingly paranoid when the president of one of
his clubs and a previously dismissive manager suddenly took an interest in his camping habits he became
suspicious then the police approached him at home and Lynn decided he needed to act he waited through winter knowing
Russell and Carol's bodies would remain undetected due to the snow blocked roads when restrictions finally eased he
again returned to Union spur track at sunset on Wednesday November 18 2020 9 months had passed since the
killings Russell and Carol's bodies remained where Lynn had dumped them though they had now been ravaged by wild
dogs Lynn described ding The Remains with two L of kerosene then set them a light he sat beside the mag shift py
through the night feeding the Flames at times he became sick from the experience at dawn he crushed the
brittle bones to powder pulverizing the fragments until the largest particles left were no more than 2
cm he scattered them before retreating to a state forest campsite south of wallhalla to recover
the detectives found much of Lynn's story implausible Russell Hill had been an elderly man who hadn't owned a firearm
in 20 years how could he have loaded a shotgun while walking barefoot in the darkness that Russell had accidentally
shot Carol directly in the head while wrestling with Lynn seemed equally unlikely as did the odds of Russell
Landing perfectly on his own knife during a second attack while Lynn had been in custody
police had searched his home in Caroline Springs Beyond camping gear hunting licenses and a toll tag they found an
impressive weapons collection knives daggers swords axes a silenter tomahawks and a small
pick the Firearms included a semi-automatic pistol two six- shot revolvers a semi-automatic rifle a
semi-automatic shotgun another 12 gauge shotgun and two lever action rifles along with magazines of
ammunition all were legally owned and stored at 6:00 the next morning detectives traveled 185 km through heavy
fog to Union spur track it matched Lynn's description perfectly though no identif viable human
remains were visible evidence of fire prompted police to cordon off the area for
examination forensic teams ultimately discovered approximately 2,100 human bone fragments also discovered were fragments
of metal and glass a ring belonging to Carol and a complete watch dental records confirmed the
remains were Russell and carols when investig vators would later return to Buck's Camp to test Gregory
Lynn's story they conducted a methodical grid search and recovered more bone fragments glass plastic and a distorted
shotgun slug matching the weapon Ling claimed had killed Carol Lynn said Carol was killed while
cowering beside Russell's Land Cruiser the shot had initially struck the land Cruiser's passenger side mirror
before ricocheting into Carol's head notably the mirror had been torn from the vehicle and burnt with the campsite
so police couldn't confirm this part of Lynn's story six blood stains on the inside of
the Land Cruisers canopy had matched Carol's DNA blood stain pattern analysis indicated a forceful event involving
liquid blood forward of the canopy's Interior partition police tested Lind account
with a series of experiments using a shotgun to see whether Carol could have really been killed as Lynn
said they found that she could have been but they remained skeptical of Lynn's story there was no way to test whether
Russell Hill had died the way Lynn described though forensics indicated he too had died at Buck's camp and his
blood had been found in the Land Cruiser as well at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday November
25th 2021 over a year and a half after Russell Hill and Carol clay were killed Gregory Lynn was charged with their
murders in January 2023 the Melbourne magistrates Court determined that there was enough evidence for Gregory Lynn to
face trial however the prosecution was barred from presenting much of their evidence
including covert recordings they had made of Lynn and portions of his multi-day interview at s police
station nor were the jury permitted to hear about Gregory Lynn's alleged violence towards his first wife or her
mysterious death Lynn's trial began in Victoria Supreme Court in May 2024 the prosecution outlined their case
alleging Lynn shot Carol clay in the head and killed Russell hill by unknown means on Friday March 20 2020 at Buck
Camp the prosecution believed the murders had taken place in the reverse manner to Lynn's claims with Russell
likely killed first and Carol then eliminated as a witness Witnesses described to
discovering the burnt campsite while police detailed evidence from phone towers surveillance footage and
interviews experts testified about bone fragments bullet trajectories DNA and insect
ly Russell Hill's wife Robin gave poignant testimony due to limited Mobility she
sat in the media box rather than the podium Robin recalled listening for Russell's nightly Radio Calls and
growing alarmed when his voice went silent on Saturday March 21 her composure remained intact as she
recalled realizing her husband was missing and the subsequent tabloid coverage exposing his
affair Robin was stoic as she testified jotting down details in a notebook after 4 weeks of prosecution
testimony from 49 Witnesses the defense called just one witness Gregory Stewart Lynn it is rare for an accused murderer
to take the stand given the risks of cross-examination however the move signaled confidence in Lynn's ability to
present his version of events and create Reasonable Doubt speaking softly and precisely Lynn
described the deaths as accidental he repeated his claims of the fight over the gun Carol being shot and
Russell falling on his own knife almost word for word as he had in his police station
confession he apologized to the victim's families acknowled in his actions to conceal the deaths were despicable but
maintaining his innocence regarding murder I'm very sorry for your suffering he said the prosecution highlighted the few
inconsistencies in Len's account including conflicting descriptions of the weapon involved and the
implausibility of his story about a struggle across Russell's vehicle a photo showed a guy rope
attached to the car that would have obstructed the alleged fight Lynn calmly stated he didn't
remember the Rope he might have slipped under it he said but he never noticed it when pressed on why he hadn't called
for help or come forward sooner Lynn said he was paralyzed by fear and hoped the situation would blow
over he admitted his actions destroyed his career and family but remained adamant he was not guilty of murder
saying I'm guilty of other things but not murder during closing arguments the prosecution pointed out that Lynn had
more than a year to construct a story for the day he was finally caught and that he had practiced it so often that
he repeated the story almost word for word over two days of police interviews the accused story is indeed a
series of very unfortunate events the prosecution said it is also a complete fiction you can and should readily
reject it Beyond Reasonable Doubt the defense counted with a scathing critique of the prosecution's
case labeling it a shambles they highlighted 17 perceived flaws in the prosecution's evidence
including failures to address address key questions and inconsistencies in witness
testimony before the jury left to deliberate the judge reiterated key legal principles the presumption of
innocence the prosecution's burden of proof and the need to prove guilt Beyond Reasonable
Doubt manslaughter was not an option as the prosecution had only set out to prove that Lynn had consciously
voluntarily and Deli L caused the deaths of Russell and Carol the jury were only left to
consider if he had intended to kill or inflict Serious injury if not they must return a not
guilty verdict the judge cautioned them against flawed reasoning such as assuming two
accidental deaths were so improbable it must therefore be murder he reminded jurors that the
burden rested with the prosecution not Lynn to prove their [Music] case the jury deliberated for 6 days
before notifying the judge that they had reached a verdict the public Gallery was full and
the courtroom fell silent as the jury forers stood and waited for the judge to ask her two
questions asked for a verdict on Russell Hills murder she responded not guilty a soft Collective gasp rippled
through the gallery before the crowd fell silent to hear what she had to say to the next
question asked about the murder of Carol clay the forers told the court guilty the gasps and murmurs were louder
this time Gregory Lynn raised his eyebrows at his fate but remained otherwise expressionless his son who was seated
nearby crossed his arms and shook his head in disbelief the families of Russell and
Carol who had endured years of uncertainty and grief absorbed the news with a mix of relief and
Devastation outside the courtroom the families released a statement expressing gratitude to the police and prosecution
while mourning The Limited evidence and its impact on the outcome Russell Hill's Widow Robin spoke to the
media after the verdict she expressed relief that Lynn had been found guilty of at least one
murder as she had feared he would be cleared of both charges however her relief was tempered
by anger and a desire for justice for her late husband I hope he suffers for the rest
of his life really Robin told reporters I hope he has a lovely time in jail she bore no ill will towards Carol
or her family Robin was not permitted to speak at Lynn's pre-sentencing hearing nor
were any of Russell's other loved ones because Lynn had been acquitted of Russell's murder The Hill Family were
legally barred from providing Victim Impact statements Carol's daughter Emma described her mother as a phenomenal
woman whose death left a void in their family her voice steady she recounted the emotional toll of the ordeal calling
it a horror movie Carol's other loved ones spoke of her vibrant personality contributions to
society and the devastating loss her murder caused in October the hill and Clay families assembled once again to hear
Gregory Lynn be sentenced the judge recounted Lynn's actions from the confrontation in the High Country to
the calculated disposal of the bodies which compounded the suffering of the victim's
families he acknowledged the legal limbo endured by Russell Hills Family due to the split verdict breaking down in tears
as he recognized their pain Gregory Lynn was sentenced to 32 years in prison for Carol Clay's murder
with a non-parole period of 24 years this meant that Lynn will be 79 years old at the youngest when eligible
for [Music] release in late November 2024 Gregory Lynn lodged an appeal against his
conviction for Carol Clay's murder as of the release of this episode Victoria's court of appeal have yet to
decide whether to hear Lyn's appeal which means he could face a new trial in 2025 addressing Lynn's intent to appeal
his barister flagged several grounds focusing especially on the jury's inconsistent
verdict he questioned how Lynn could be found guilty of murdering Carol but not Russell when the prosecution's case
hinged on Carol being killed to cover up Russell's murder this contradiction the defense
argued could undermine the entire [Music] verdict the verdict did cause some initial confusion among members of the
public who had been following the case the jury's acquittal of Lynn for Russell Hill's murder indicated they
hadn't been convinced by the prosecution's case but their conviction of him for Carol Clay's killing pointed to them not
believing Lynn's claims either he had always insisted Carol had di first following an accidental
shooting by Russell yet the jury found Lynn responsible for her murder as Australian juries are not
permitted to speak publicly about their deliberations people could only speculate as to how they had reached
their verdict crime journalist John Sylvester interpreted the verdict to his readers
in an article for the age writing it would appear the jury concluded Ed that Russell was killed in
unprovable circumstances but Lynn then murdered Carol because she was a witness to the
death with the option of manslaughter off the table the jury had to conclude whether Russell was murdered a
deliberate act not just unlawfully killed a reckless act with no forensic evidence it was impossible for the jury
to establish the exact circumstances of Russell's death but they apparently concluded it was so damning that Lynn
chose to kill Carol and destroy the crime scene in the cover up Sylvester noted that it's unusual for
a random gunshot to hit someone ducking from the line of fire and even more so for a ricocheted shot to hit someone in
the head this made Al ly's claims about Carol's death highly unlikely although there was evidence that she had been
shot the jury had probably disbelieved Lynn's story about Russell falling on his knife and dying instantly from a
single Stab Wound as well but could not convict him due to the lack of evidence as to how Russell had
died Lynn's complete destruction of the couple's remains and their campsite made
determining the truth almost impossible only one person alive knew the truth Sylvester
wrote that is Gregory Lynn who will now be in his cell reflecting on the jury's [Music]
decision for

*** Content warnings: Gun violence, animal cruelty *** When 74-year-old Russell Hill and 73-year-old Carol Clay vanished while camping in Victoria’s rugged High Country, their disappearance brought many hidden secrets to light. People theorised that the pair had run away together, were the victims of a murder-suicide, or had accidentally been killed by hunters. But there was only one person out there who knew the truth.

CREDITS

Narration – Anonymous Host Research & writing – Eileen Ormsby Editing – Erin Munro Creative direction – Milly Raso Production and music – Mike Migas Music – Andrew Joslyn Audio editing – Anthony Telfer

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RESOURCES

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Brief Summary

Russell Hill and Carol Clay's mysterious deaths lead to Gregory Lynn's arrest and trial for murder amidst a secret affair and a burnt campsite discovery.

Key points

A Family's Distressing Discovery. The Marat family finds a burnt campsite, raising alarms about missing campers.
Two Missing Campers. Investigators uncover a wallet belonging to Carol Clay at the campsite of Russell Hill.
The Mysterious Disappearance. Russell and Carol vanish under suspicious circumstances, sparking a massive search effort.
The Button Man Legend. A local figure known as the Button Man becomes a focal point of suspicion.
The Dark Side of Domestic Life. Lynn's controlling and abusive behavior towards his wife Lisa is revealed.
A Fatal Encounter. Lynn's confrontation with Russell Hill leads to a tragic accident.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Something felt wrong.

Andrew's uneasy feeling after discovering the burnt campsite.

2:58WatchMar 22, 2025

Tension

85/ 100High tension

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