Dezi Freeman child abuse material found on devices after police shooting

Police were closing in on a stash of child abuse material reportedly linked to cop killer Dezi Freeman before he fatally shot two officers.

Investigators had attended Freeman’s rural Victorian property in August last year armed with a search warrant targeting electronic devices belonging to the 56-year-old.

The situation escalated dramatically when Freeman opened fire on officers, killing constables Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart and injuring a third before fleeing into bushland.

According to the ABC, hundreds of files containing child abuse material were later uncovered on Freeman’s devices.

At the time of the shooting, Freeman, who identified as a sovereign citizen, had been living with his wife and children in a run-down bus in Porepunkah, in Victoria’s north-east.

The warrant was reportedly tied to an investigation into historical sexual offences, including allegations of sexual exposure. Detectives are understood to have been in contact with at least one alleged victim.

“Police initially attended the Porepunkah property on 26 August 2025 as part of an investigation by the Wangaratta sexual offences and child abuse investigation team,” a Victoria Police spokesperson told The Nightly when asked about child abuse material and why specialist units were not deployed to execute the warrant.

“We won’t be commenting on the specifics of that investigation.”

Freeman evaded police for 216 days, sparking a massive manhunt and a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture.

The search ended on March 30, when specialist police tracked him to a property in Thologolong, about 150km away.

Officers negotiated with him for several hours while he was holed up inside a converted shipping container.

He eventually emerged wrapped in a blanket and holding a service pistol taken from one of the officers.

After pointing the weapon at police, Freeman was shot dead at the scene.

Freeman had a history of run-ins with police, including traffic matters, disputes with neighbours and attendance at anti-COVID restriction protests. He had previously expressed extreme anti-police views.

Since his death, some fringe “sovereign citizen” groups have attempted to cast doubt on the allegations against him, claiming without evidence that they were fabricated.

The ABC also reports Freeman had downplayed the investigation among associates, describing it as relating to a “skinny-dipping” incident, an element understood to form part of the broader probe.

What happened when police found Dezi Freeman

Freeman was shot dead in a standoff with police.

Det-Sen. Const. Neal Thompson and Sen. Const. Vadim De Waart-Hottart were later identified as the two officers killed.

After an enormous police operation, the cop-killer was found after a reported tip-off living inside a shipping container on a rural property.

Victoria’s Police Commissioner Mike Bush told media after the fugitive was killed that the stand-off had been filmed on police cameras and that he had reviewed the footage.

In the standoff, police gave Freeman the opportunity to surrender, Mr Bush revealed, adding that the stand-off was hours long.

However, he didn’t and reportedly came towards police covered in a blanket concealing what was believed to be a weapon.

Freeman was reportedly shot at least 20 times.

Freeman’s family speak out

Freeman’s family were vocal in the aftermath of his death.

While police, Porepunkah residents and the broader community expressed relief that the seven-month manhunt for Freeman was finally over, Koah Freeman said his family was grieving.

“I am not here to defend my father’s actions because I know what he did was wrong,” the 21-year-old wrote in an emotional Facebook post hours after his father’s death.

“What I’m here about however is seeing so called ‘friends’ and people who I thought were nice people say some questionable things.

“I hope you all realise that I am looking at everything you are saying, and that you all realise how that is making me feel. I know you people all have thoughts to share about the situation that has been happening.

“Just bear in mind that to you’s (sic) my father was a cop killer, but to me that’s still my father who raised me to be the man I am today. And for the people who know me well they know exactly what I’m talking about.

“This is news that I’ll be grieving about while some of you disgusting humans celebrate online for me to watch.”

Freeman’s sister, who has chosen not to be publicly identified, told the Herald Sun that she was “ashamed and angry” at her brother’s actions.

“I am ashamed and angry that my brother was capable of murdering two human beings who were just doing their job,” she said, adding that her parents “would have been horrified if they were still alive to witness the tragic events of the past seven months.”

How Dezi Freeman was found

Specialist police moved in on the container shortly after 5.30am on March 30 after a reported tip-off, which may have related to a police reward.

Officers deployed flash bangs and smoke grenades before eventually ramming the structure with a Bearcat armoured vehicle.

The remote property, scattered with shipping containers, abandoned vehicles, caravans and tarpaulins, showed signs of off-grid living, including solar panels and makeshift facilities.

Photos of the crime scene later emerged showing the fugitive’s junk-filled hideout.

The remote property, scattered with shipping containers, abandoned vehicles, caravans and tarpaulins, showed signs of off-grid living, including solar panels and makeshift facilities.

Investigators are now working to determine how Freeman managed to evade capture for so long and whether he received help while on the run.

Two people were arrested five days after Freeman was shot dead but were later released without charge.