The fugitive’s time on the run came to a dramatic end on Monday morning.

Dezi Freeman’s time on the run came to a dramatic end on Monday morning when police swarmed on the rural Victorian property he had been hiding out in.

The 56-year-old refused to surrender peacefully and after emerging from a shipping container armed with a gun was shot dead by police.

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Hosted by Michael Usher and Mike Amor, 7NEWS: The Dezi Freeman Hunt Over delves into how authorities closed in on Victoria’s most wanted man.

“Dezi” spray painted on sign near fugitive’s hideout

A street sign is seen with “Dezi” spray painted on it near by the scene where Freeman was shot dead in Thologolong.

A street sign is seen with “Dezi” spray painted on it near the property where fugitive Dezi Freeman was shot dead in Thologolong, Victoria on March

A timeline of the police investigation into Dezi Freeman

August 26, 2025

Ten officers were executing a search warrant at Freeman’s home in Porepunkah in northeast Victoria on August 26, 2025 when Freeman opened fire.

The search warrant was in relation to alleged historical sexual offences that had happened in the past two years.

Three officers were hit during the gunfire including Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35 who were tragically killed.

The third officer, who has never been named publicly, suffered serious injuries to his leg.

August 28

A few days after the deadly shooting Freeman’s wife Mali, 42, as well as his 15-year-old son were both arrested at a Porepunkah property during a police raid.

They were both released and no charges were laid.

September 5

Funeral held for Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart.

September 6

Police announce a $1 million reward for Freeman’s arrest, the largest reward offered for an arrest in Victoria’s history.

September 7

Funeral held for Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson.

September 10

Screenshots emerge from a video showing the moments police executed the search warrant and confronted Freeman as he barricaded himself inside a bus.

The video, understood to have gone for more than 20 minutes showed officers, including Thompson, try to reason with Freeman.

In the video, Freeman refuses to open the bus door as officers explained they had a warrant.

“Leave us alone, leave us alone,” Freeman reportedly shouted in the video.

October 6

Freeman’s brother says he believes the fugitive is already dead on Mount Buffalo near his property.

October 24

Victoria Police announce Taskforce Summit as the dedicated team leading the search for Freeman.

It comprised of detectives from Crime Command, specialist resources from the Fugitive Squad, Armed Crime Squad, VIPER Taskforce, Special Operations Group and Search and Rescue Squad.

Mount Buffalo National Park, which is located not far from where Freeman was living and where the alleged shooting occurred, also fully opened back up to the public.

It had been closed while officers scoured the area as officers believed he may have fled into the park.

November 9

Police investigate witness reports of a single gunshot fired near Freeman’s property on the day of the shooting.

Investigators conducted firearms tests in the area earlier that week.

December 5

During a five-day search of the Mount Buffalo National Park police confirmed they were now looking for Freeman’s body.

February 2, 2026

Police announce a new major five-day search for Freeman.

Detective Inspector Adam Tilley said police did not believe Freeman was still in the area and that it was very likely he was dead.

“There has been no information or intelligence (that) has come forward, no proof of life since the 26th of August last year,” he said at the time

March 30

Police descend on a rural property in Thologolong following days of surveillance.

A three-hour stand-off between police ensues and Freeman is shot dead.

Freeman’s body moved from rural property

Freeman’s body was removed from his hideout in Thologolong overnight.

Police remain at the property on Tuesday as they sift through evidence and the fugitive’s belongings.

What do we know about Dezi Freeman?

Dezi Freeman was born Desmond Filby and had three children.

He was a self-proclaimed “sovereign citizen” who has made no secret of his hatred for police and the government, causing family members and friends to distance themselves.

Sovereign citizens, also known as pseudo-law adherents, believe they don’t need to follow laws passed by Parliament if they don’t consent to them.

They have a particular hatred for state authorities including local governments and the tax office.

Freeman was also an experienced bushman and bushcraft expert.

His wife Mali Freeman, 42, and 15-year-old son were arrested in Porepunkah a few days after the shooting.

The pair were interviewed by police but released pending further inquiries.

In 2024 Freeman fronted court over driving offences.

According to court documents Freeman referred to the police in his evidence as “frigging Nazis”, “Gestapo” and “terrorist thugs”.

Dezi Freeman. Credit: 7NEWS

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner visits hideout

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush visited Freeman’s hideout on Monday evening.

Bush travelled to Thologolong from Melbourne following a press conference in the morning.

Police are still canvassing the area and will seize any items they deem of interest.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush walking into the property where Dezi Freeman was hiding out on Monday evening. Credit: 7NEWS Bush and other police officers at the scene. Credit: 7NEWS

Local mayor speaks after shooting

Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas said the community had been “deeply affected” by the shooting in August last year and that there would be continued support for all residents going forward.

In a statement on Facebook Nicholas said the tragedy in Porepunkah had a “significant impact on many individuals and families”.

“We will be doing everything we can to continue supporting our community through this difficult time,” she said.

“If these events have been distressing or triggering, we encourage community members to reach out for support.

“This may be as simple as talking with someone you trust, spending time with a friend, getting outdoors, or connecting with one of the many support services available.”

Former detective says Freeman’s capture was ‘never going to end well’

Former Victoria Police Detective Charlie Bezzina said Freeman’s capture was “never going to end well” and was not surprised at how long he was able to evade police.

Bezzina said the self-described sovereign citizen was never going to give up.

“He wasnt going to commit suicide, he was gonna come out fighting there’s no two ways about it,” he said.

The investigation will now focus on whoever helped Freeman hide for the last seven months, Bezzina said.

“He got there by some assistance. He’s been sustained by some people at that location and they are the ones that will be targeted by the Victoria Police at the moment,” he said.

“I think he was taken up there and looked after in that regard and putting themselves at risk in relation to being charged by the police and they’ll come in heavy and we then expect the courts to follow suit.”

Bezzina said he wasn’t surprised that it took police so long to find the fugitive given Victoria was a “pretty big place”.

“The fact is people can live next door and you don’t even know it,” he said.

“He didnt have a very big association base, he didn’t have the contacts, he would have not had money access to go anywhere so he’s pretty well confined so its not surprisng at all and I think they were confident to say he was still in the state because he just didn’t have the means to escape the state nor the country.”

Former Victoria Police Detective Charlie Bezzina. Credit: 7NEWS

Watch the Dezi Freeman special on 7plus now

 

Miss the 7NEWS Dezi Freeman special last night?

You can catch up for free on 7plus by clicking the link below.

Hosted by Michael Usher and Mike Amor, 7NEWS: The Dezi Freeman Hunt Over delves into how authorities closed in on Victoria’s most wanted man.

Grieving son of Freeman hits back at ‘disgusting’ reaction to father being shot dead

The grieving son of cop killer Dezi Freeman has issued an emotional plea online for respect as he lashed out at people celebrating his father’s death.

Koah Freeman, the eldest son of the fugitive, shared the post on a Facebook community page on Monday — just hours after his father was shot dead.

Koah said he was “not here to defend” what his father had done, but urged people to consider the impact of their comments on his grieving family.

“I am not here to defend my father’s actions because I know what he did was wrong,” he wrote.

“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.

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

“Before you have something smart to say, how about you try and experience 1 per cent of what me and my family are going through?

“If you can’t then highly recommend keeping your nasty comments and thoughts to yourself.”

A look inside Dezi Freeman’s rural junkyard hideout

Despite found living on a rural property near the NSW-Victoria border while being on the run from police, cop killer Dezi Freeman wasn’t without his creature comforts.

7NEWS chopper shots captured exactly how the 56-year-old father was living before he was shot dead by police following a three-hour standoff in Thologolong on Monday morning.

Encircled by a dirt track the property resembled a junk yard housing multiple cars, a small truck, caravans and shipping containers.

Of particular interest was the Cosco Shipping Lines container that appeared to be Freeman’s primary residence.

A tarp hanging from the top of the container acted as cover for the fugitive’s makeshift kitchen, complete with pots and pans, plates, a chopping board, gas bottles and beer packaging.

A couple of chairs had also been placed in the killer’s outdoor kitchen area.

The property was littered with cars, containers and other miscellaneous items. Credit: 7NEWS Freeman had an outdoor kitchen set-up complete with gas bottles, pots and pans, plates and chairs. Credit: 7NEWS