Dezi Freeman call intercepted days after Porepunkah double police shooting as Thologolong hideout identified

A phone call intercepted by police shortly after the fatal shooting of two Victorian police officers has revealed the moment fugitive Dezi Freeman appeared to grasp the gravity of what he had just done.

As authorities worked for months to track the cop killers’ movements across Victoria’s northeast, they captured a conversation between Freeman and an associate.

The conversation took place in the days following the August 26, 2025, shooting in Porepunkah, during which Freeman admitted he had “f..cked up”.

Despite the early insight into the gunman’s state of mind, police were initially unable to determine his whereabouts, allowing him to disappear into the remote bushland and avoid capture for more than seven months, the Herald Sun reports.

Freeman is accused of fatally shooting two police officers and seriously injuring a third when authorities attended his home in Victoria’s High Country to execute a search warrant. The incident triggered a major multi-agency response, with specialist resources deployed across alpine terrain and border regions as the manhunt intensified.

Over the following 216 days, investigators assessed more than 2000 reports from members of the public as they attempted to narrow down possible sightings and trace any sign of the fugitive’s movements.

While the intercepted call suggested Freeman was aware of the consequences he faced, the development that ultimately helped authorities locate him came months later, when police began examining the movements of a person believed to be closely connected to him.

A vehicle linked to the associate was allegedly observed travelling multiple times between Porepunkah and Thologolong, a remote area near the Murray River on the Victoria–NSW border.

The repeated trips drew investigative focus and, combined with a public tip received about 5.30am on Monday, helped officers identify the location where Freeman had allegedly been hiding.

Police attended the rural property, where Freeman had been living inside a large white shipping container positioned near a main road but partially concealed by surrounding bushland.

The structure has been modified with a green awning supported by poles, creating a shaded outdoor area where camping chairs, a portable stove and basic cooking utensils were set up.

Officers surrounded the site, leading to a tense stand-off lasting about three hours before a BearCat armoured vehicle equipped with a mechanical claw was used to breach the container.

Freeman was shot more than 20 times during the confrontation after emerging wrapped in a blanket and allegedly carrying a handgun believed to have been taken from one of the officers killed during the Porepunkah shooting.

Authorities are now focused on determining whether Freeman received assistance while evading capture and identifying anyone who may have helped him travel between locations or obtain supplies during the months he remained on the run.

Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said investigators would continue examining evidence to identify any individuals who may have supported the fugitive.

“We’re going to track backwards… to work out who did assist him and those people, when identified, will be held to account,” he said.

Anyone found to have knowingly assisted a wanted offender can face significant penalties, including lengthy prison sentences.

Former friend Bruce Evans told A Current Affair he had spoken with Freeman prior to the shooting and said he was not surprised by the outcome, suggesting the fugitive would not have wanted to face the prospect of life behind bars.

Police continue to analyse evidence gathered from the hideout as inquiries remain ongoing into how Freeman was able to avoid detection for such an extended period following the deadly incident.

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.