By Mitchell Clarke
Detectives investigating the mysterious disappearance of Pakenham CWA president Carol Clay and her camping companion Russell Hill will relaunch physical searches, after seeking assistance from interstate and overseas counterparts.
It’s now been over six months since the elderly friends “disappeared into nowhere” during a camping trip through the Wonnangatta Valley.
Sunday 20 September marked the six month anniversary since the pair were last heard from via HF radio, prompting a fresh appeal for information from Victoria Police.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper, who leads the Missing Persons Squad, said police were still hopeful of providing answers for the Hill and Clay families.
“Six months is a long time to be waiting by the phone for information, however police haven’t given up,” Mr Stamper said.
“When the weather allows, our investigators and specialist search teams will return to the area to conduct further searches in the hope of finding any clues about what has happened to Russell and Carol.”
The “unique” investigation has baffled police, who are yet to find any leads, however it’s believed the pair could have met foul play.
Mr Stamper said it was yet to be fully determined whether their disappearance is suspicious, but said his firm belief was that a third party had been involved in one way or another.
“This investigation has been quite unique to us in a number of ways because of the remoteness of the area, lack of conventional avenues of inquiry, so we’ve really had to think outside the square,” Mr Stamper told 7 News.
“Things could have changed and things that were concealed previously, six months ago, may not be concealed now.”
A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed further assistance had been sought from interstate and overseas organisations, but wouldn’t provide specific information about the type of help requested.
Russell left his Drouin home on 19 March in his white Toyota Landcruiser and collected Carol from her home in Pakenham.
The pair spent one night at Howitt High Plains before heading into the remote Wonnangatta Valley on 20 March.
Carol told friends she was expecting to return home on 28 or 29 March, but the pair have not made any contact since 20 March.
Russell’s vehicle was found by campers with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely destroyed by fire, near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on 21 March. The examination of the fire scene by arson chemists proved inconclusive.
Mr Stamper is pleading for information from anyone who was in the Wonnangatta or surrounding areas at the time.
“We’ve had a number of people who were in the area around the time they went missing come forward however I can’t stress enough that anyone with even the slightest piece of information is urged to contact us,” he said.
“We know there were vehicles in the area at the time with Victorian, NSW, Tasmanian, Queensland and South Australian registrations, so potentially there are people now interstate who have some information or need to contact us with their details.
“Although six months have passed, police still believe that we can solve this but we need the public’s help.”
Anyone who sights Russell or Carol is urged to contact triple zero (000) immediately.
