New search for fugitive Dezi Freeman enters day two after police say they believe they are searching for remains

As the fresh search for fugitive Dezi Freeman enters day two, police say they “strongly believe” he is dead. The new five-day search kicked off on Monday in Mount Buffalo National Park in Victoria’s northeast, some five months after the 56-year-old allegedly shot and killed two police officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart. More than 100 officers were sent to scour a new section of bushland in the early hours of Monday morning, with police, assisted by a cadaver dog, now searching for remains. Police believe Freeman’s body is in the area, with Victoria Police Detective Inspector Adam Tilley revealing investigators are “comfortable” he is dead. “There has been no information or intelligence has come forward, no proof of life since the 26th of August last year,” Inspector Tilley said. “We are comfortable that we don’t believe he is here alive. However, we are keeping an open mind that that is a possibility. “We do believe strongly that he is in this area deceased.” After an extensive search of caves, mines and rivers in the dense bushland, officers have uncovered no evidence to suggest Freeman is still alive. This week’s search will cover an area equivalent to the size of about 52 Melbourne Cricket Ground ovals. More to come