By Shelby Brooks
For the first time the families of missing campers Carol Clay and Russell Hill have shared their anguish over the pair’s mysterious disappearance 19 months ago.
It comes as Victoria Police renew their appeal for information as they investigate a new theory.
Carol, of Pakenham, and Russell, of Drouin, were last heard from on 20 March 2020 when they were camping in the Wonnangatta Valley.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said he wanted to reassure the community that police were far from giving up.
“I’m really confident that we’re on the right track, we’re looking at a particular theory now which involves a number of persons,“ he said.
He did not elaborate further on that theory.
“Investigators have had the opportunity to speak with both the Hill and Clay families in the past week and to say their grief is still very raw would be an understatement,“ Detective Stamper said.
“They spoke to us at length about all the things they have missed – the family birthdays Russell and Carol weren’t present for, their first Christmases without them, and the pain of simply not being able to talk to them about the every day things happening in their lives.
“These are two people who are still very much loved and missed by those who knew them; this hasn’t gone away in the past 19 months.“
Police have renewed their appeal for information in the hope there are people out there who are still yet to speak to police that have information about the campers’ disappearance.
“If you do know something or have heard something, no matter what it is, then I urge you to come forward and hopefully we can continue to fill in all the pieces of this puzzle until we get the result and answers both families deserve,“ Detective Stamper said.
It is still yet to be fully determined whether the pair’s disappearance is suspicious, however investigators have long believed it is likely a third party was involved in their disappearance.
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