Just two weeks after Victoria Police officially confirmed that Dezi Freeman – Australia’s most notorious police killer – died in an armed confrontation at a remote farm in Thologolong, Victoria state, a mysterious video has spread like wildfire on social networks.
The clip, filmed on a mobile phone in the early morning of April 13, 2026, shows a tall man with disheveled hair and a distinct limp along a deserted road along the Murray River, near the New South Wales border.
The person filming the video – an anonymous local resident – tremblingly described: “I saw him from about 50 meters away. His right leg was seriously injured, he had difficulty walking. His face, height, even the way he bowed his head to avoid… that was Dezi Freeman. I’m 100% sure. It sent chills down my spine.”
Dezi Freeman, 56 years old, was the focus of one of the largest manhunts in Australian history. He is accused of murdering two police officers – Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and another colleague – in August 2025 in Porepunkah, then escaping into the mountains for 216 days. The long manhunt involved hundreds of police officers, sniffer dogs, helicopters and millions of dollars in expenses.
On March 30, 2026, Victoria Police announced that Freeman had been shot dead after a three-hour standoff at a converted shipping container on Murray River Road, Thologolong – less than 1km from the NSW border.
Authorities confirmed identity through fingerprints, dental records and DNA. The body was taken for an autopsy. The Coroner officially confirmed the death. The story seems to be over – a dangerous cop killer has been eliminated.
But just two weeks later, mysterious footage appeared, turning everything upside down.
Scary details from witnesses
According to at least three independent witnesses – including the person who took the video and two other locals living along the Murray River – the mystery man appeared around 7am. He was wearing an old jacket, torn pants, and a baseball cap that partially obscured his face. His right leg was crudely bandaged, blood seeping through the fabric, and every step was accompanied by a groan of pain.
He moved slowly towards bushland near the NSW border, where rough terrain and waterways would make concealment easy.
A 62-year-old witness, who lives just 2km from the scene, told The Border Mail: “I was feeding the dog when I saw him. I almost screamed in shock. That face – deep-set eyes, scraggly beard – was exactly like the Dezi Freeman I had seen on every newspaper and TV news report for the past seven months. He looked at me for a moment then turned away, limping faster into the bushes. I ran into the house, locked the door and called the police immediately.”
NSW and Victoria police quickly deployed search teams but so far no trace has been found. They dismissed the possibility that this was Freeman, asserting that “the man in the video could be a homeless person or an injured tourist, and the similarity is purely coincidental.” However, the refusal to release body-cam footage from the confrontation on March 30 or detailed autopsy results is making public opinion even more suspicious.
Doubt explodes: Is Freeman really dead?
Dezi Freeman’s story has been full of dark spots from the beginning. He escaped after the Porepunkah shooting, surviving 216 days in the Victorian Alps with no apparent source of support. Police admitted he “may have received help from some local individuals”. Many residents of the highlands have expressed sympathy for Freeman – a person who lived off-grid, had a strong ideology of personal freedom, before turning into a murderer.
Now, with the new video, a series of questions arise:
Is the body identified as Freeman really him, or just a corpse “staged” to end a costly manhunt? Does Freeman have a helper so powerful that he can fake his death and escape to NSW in just a few days? Why didn’t the police release all evidence of identity verification from the beginning? And most importantly: is the man limping along the Murray River Dezi Freeman – still alive, seriously injured and on the run?
On Facebook groups, Reddit (r/Australia, r/conspiracy) and TikTok, the hashtags #DeziFreemanAlive and #MurrayRiverSighting have exploded with hundreds of thousands of interactions. Many locals posted old photos of Freeman comparing them to the blurred frame from the video: “That’s him. Look at the nose, the chin – identical.” Some even accused the government and police of a “cover-up” to avoid admitting failure in the expensive manhunt.
Background and gaps in the official story
Dezi Freeman is no ordinary criminal. He once lived as a hippie libertarian, protesting against the government and living on his own. The incident escalated when police arrived at his property in Porepunkah to execute an arrest warrant related to a land dispute. Freeman allegedly opened fire, killing two officers and wounding a third before disappearing into the woods.
For seven months, police repeatedly issued updates: Freeman may have died of starvation or suicide, then confirmed he was still alive and receiving assistance. Ultimately, the confrontation at Thologolong ended in gunfire. Police say Freeman held a gun (possibly a weapon taken from a previous victim) and refused to surrender.
However, some details remain unclear: who owns the property where Freeman is hiding? How did he survive the cold winter without being detected? And why is there no publicly available police body-cam footage that clearly shows the victim’s face?
The new Murray River video – despite being low quality and only lasting 18 seconds – has shaken confidence in the official story. Many legal experts and former independent police investigators believe it is necessary to conduct independent DNA testing and fully release the autopsy report to reassure public opinion.
The consequences and fear are widespread
If the man in the video is indeed Dezi Freeman, it means Australia is still facing a dangerous cop killer, injured but still free. The area along the Murray River and national forest near the NSW-Victoria border is ideal for escape: rivers, dense forest, few surveillance cameras and sparse communities.
Local people are living in worry. Many families lock their doors tighter and avoid going alone into the forest or along the river. Spontaneous civil patrol groups have formed. Meanwhile, Australian media is divided: some major newspapers such as The Guardian and ABC call for calm and wait for scientific evidence, while independent tabloids and YouTube channels promote the “Freeman is alive” conspiracy theory.
Victoria and NSW Police have increased patrols along the Murray River and urged anyone with information to contact immediately. They emphasized: “We have identified the victim with certainty. Any rumors will only cause confusion and obstruct justice.”
But with the viral footage spreading millions of views, that call seems not enough. The question “Was Dezi Freeman really dead?” is becoming the hottest topic in Australia today.
Conclusion: Truth or conspiracy?
The mysterious video along the Murray River could just be a scary coincidence – an innocent man’s injuries resemble a dead murderer. Or it could be evidence that one of the most expensive manhunts in Australian history ended in a colossal mistake, or even a staged drama.
Until there is irrefutable scientific evidence – DNA, clear footage, or actual arrests – the Australian public will continue to be skeptical. And Dezi Freeman, dead or alive, is haunting a nation.
The truth may be being hidden from the beginning. Or there’s something darker going on in the shade of the trees along the Murray River.
What do you think? The clip below is what’s making Australia restless… 👇