Expert Analysis Suggests Dezi Freeman Had Assistance During Lengthy Evasion
An expert in criminology has asserted that Dezi Freeman's ability to remain undetected for months in a region near his last known location indicates he was likely not acting alone. The 56-year-old had been a fugitive since the alleged fatal shooting of two police officers in Victoria's northeast in August. He was discovered at a rural property on Monday morning and subsequently shot dead by heavily armed officers.
Criminologist Points to Community Ties as Key Factor
Speaking on The Morning Show on Monday, Associate Professor of Criminology Dr. Xanthe Weston highlighted Freeman's deep connections to the community where he was ultimately found. "If he survived... I always believed that somebody would have had to be assisting him. I'm not actually surprised that he retained very strong links to that community, and that's where he's been discovered," she explained.
In the aftermath of the shooting, there was widespread speculation that Freeman might have fled Victoria entirely. Weston initially thought he had "perished in the wilderness," a belief reinforced by reports of a single gunshot heard by locals approximately 90 minutes to two hours after the deadly attack. "It would have been very hard to survive out there on his own; there had been no genuine sightings of him in that time," she noted, adding, "But this was the other option, that somebody was hiding him and keeping him safe and hidden."
Police Statement and Investigation Details
Victoria Police issued a statement confirming the incident: "A man has been fatally shot by police at a property in north east Victoria this morning as part of the operation to locate Desmond Freeman. The incident occurred at the rural address shortly after 8:30am on Monday, 30 March. No police officers were injured during the incident. The State Coroner will attend the scene, and the investigation will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, as per standard process for a police shooting."
With a $1 million reward offered for information, Weston suggested that someone close to Freeman may have provided tips to authorities. She also mentioned that both Freeman's family and the victims' families were likely notified before the news became public.
