In the blistering heat of the Australian outback, a massive manhunt that has gripped the nation for nearly two weeks has taken a chilling new turn. Police K9 units, combing a desolate stretch of farmland along the Kidman Way approximately 3 kilometers south of the tiny settlement of Mt Hope, discovered clear evidence that fugitive triple-murder suspect Julian Ingram had recently buried an object in the scorched earth before disappearing once again into the vast landscape.

What investigators unearthed has sent shockwaves through the already traumatized communities of Lake Cargelligo and surrounding areas — and raised fresh, disturbing questions about the mindset and intentions of the man who remains one of Australia’s most wanted fugitives.

The Triple Murder That Shocked a Small Town

The nightmare began on the afternoon of Thursday, January 22, 2026, in the quiet rural town of Lake Cargelligo, some 450 kilometers west of Sydney. In a matter of minutes, three lives were brutally ended and a fourth person was left fighting for survival.

The victims were:

Sophie Quinn, 25, who was heavily pregnant with her first child
John Harris, 32, Sophie’s new partner
Nerida Quinn, 50, Sophie’s aunt
Kaleb Macqueen, 19, who suffered serious gunshot wounds but survived

Police quickly identified Julian Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, a 37-year-old former council worker from the local area, as the prime suspect. Ingram is believed to have carried out the shootings in what authorities have described as a targeted act of extreme domestic violence.

CCTV footage released by NSW Police shows Ingram visiting the Lake Cargelligo police station earlier that same morning, dressed in work clothes and casually vaping outside the building — just hours before the killings occurred.

The Vanishing Act and the Manhunt Begins

After the shootings, Ingram allegedly fled the scene in a white single-cab Ford Ranger ute (NSW registration DM-07-GZ) belonging to the Lachlan Shire Council. Despite an immediate lockdown of roads and the deployment of hundreds of officers, specialist trackers, drones, helicopters, and strike teams, the 37-year-old vanished into the rugged western plains.

For several days, police publicly stated they were “confident” Ingram was still alive. Then came the first major break — or at least the first confirmed lead.

Between the evening of Saturday, January 24 and the early hours of Sunday, January 25, two local women reported a terrifying encounter. They claimed to have seen a man matching Ingram’s description on a rural property along the Kidman Way, about 3 km south of Mt Hope. The sighting occurred “in the dark hours of the night,” according to police statements. Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland later confirmed investigators believed the sighting was credible and that Ingram had been present at the location.

Police immediately shifted significant resources to the area. Yet despite exhaustive ground searches, thermal imaging, and public appeals, Ingram slipped away again — leaving behind only questions and growing fear in the isolated farming communities.

The Disturbing Discovery: What the K9 Units Found

On February 3, 2026, as temperatures finally moderated after weeks of punishing 40+°C heat, police K9 teams were deployed once more to re-examine the Kidman Way property and surrounding paddocks. It was during this renewed sweep that the dogs alerted to a recently disturbed patch of soil near a fence line — an area that had been lightly covered with dry grass and dirt.

Forensic officers moved in carefully. Using small hand tools to avoid destroying evidence, they uncovered a shallow burial site. Buried just 30–40 centimeters deep was a tightly wrapped package containing:

A semi-automatic firearm (believed to be the same weapon used in the Lake Cargelligo shootings)
Several spent shell casings matching those recovered at the crime scene
A small quantity of ammunition
A handwritten note containing disturbing personal references to Sophie Quinn and threats of further violence

The discovery has been described by senior investigators as “extremely concerning” and “deeply sinister.” The presence of the weapon — if forensically linked — would represent a major breakthrough, potentially allowing ballistics experts to confirm it as the murder weapon. More alarmingly, the handwritten note has led police to believe Ingram may still harbor intentions to target additional individuals connected to the original victims.

“We are treating this find as a significant piece of evidence,” a police spokesperson said in a carefully worded statement. “It shows the suspect returned to this area, disposed of items, and then continued to evade capture. We are now urgently working to determine his current location and state of mind.”

A Chilling Pattern Emerges

The discovery has intensified fears that Ingram remains highly dangerous and potentially unpredictable. Police have repeatedly stated they believe he is receiving assistance from individuals in the local region — a claim reinforced by the fact that he has managed to evade one of the largest manhunts in recent NSW history despite extreme conditions and limited resources.

“This is not just about hiding in the bush,” one senior officer familiar with the investigation told reporters off the record. “Someone is helping him — providing food, shelter, possibly transport. That makes the situation even more dangerous.”

Criticism Mounts: The Critical Incident Investigation

Adding to the pressure on authorities, NSW Police announced on February 2, 2026 that they had launched a Level 2 Critical Incident Investigation into their own handling of matters related to Julian Ingram prior to the January 22 killings.

Court documents and previous police records reveal that Ingram had a documented history of domestic violence, including a conviction for grabbing a family member by the throat. Incredibly, he had been granted police bail in earlier matters despite serious safety concerns being raised by victims and investigating officers.

New information provided by members of the public prompted the internal probe. While details remain limited, sources indicate the investigation is examining:

Whether Ingram had legal access to firearms
The adequacy of risk assessments conducted before his release on bail
Any missed opportunities to intervene before the triple homicide occurred

The declaration of a critical incident is rare and signals that police leadership believes there may have been systemic or procedural failures that contributed to the tragedy.

The Human Cost Continues

In Lake Cargelligo, a town of fewer than 200 permanent residents, grief remains raw. Funerals for Sophie Quinn, Nerida Quinn, and John Harris have been held in recent days, drawing hundreds of mourners from across the Central West. The survivor, Kaleb Macqueen, continues to recover from serious injuries in hospital.

Community leaders have described the killings as a wound that will take generations to heal. Many residents now openly express fear that Ingram remains in the region, watching, waiting, and possibly planning further harm.

Where Is Julian Ingram Now?

As of February 4, 2026, the search continues. Police insist the manhunt has not been scaled back and will remain intense until Ingram is located. Authorities have urged anyone with information — no matter how small — to come forward immediately.

A dedicated strike force, Strike Force Doberta, continues to lead the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a tip online at crimestoppers.com.au.

The discovery of the buried package has changed the tone of the manhunt. What began as a search for a fugitive accused of a horrific domestic violence triple murder has now become something even more unsettling — a race against time to find a man who may still be armed, still motivated, and still capable of further violence.

For the people of the Central West, the nightmare is far from over.