By Mitchell Clarke
The head of the Missing Persons Unit investigating the mysterious disappearance of Pakenham CWA president Carol Clay believes a third party is involved.
Victoria Police has again launched an appeal for information as part of their investigation into the disappearance of missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.
Ms Clay, a much-loved member of the local community, left her Pakenham home on 19 March to go on a touring trip along the Dargo River with Mr Hill. She told friends she was expecting to return home on 28 or 29 March.
The pair hasn’t made contact since 20 March, when they were last heard from at 6.30pm via HF radio. The following day, Mr Hill’s vehicle was located with signs of minor fire damage at their empty campsite near the Dry River Creek Track.
Detectives are confident that something happened to the pair within that 18 hour window, but after 30 full days of searching, “no trace of the pair has been found whatsoever”.
In an interview with Channel Nine’s A Current Affair, Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper, head of Victoria Police’s Missing Persons Unit, said there was the possibility the pair had been taken from the region.
“Russell and Carol have just disappeared into nowhere,” Det Insp Stamper said.
“The advice I’m getting is that we would’ve found them by now if they were still up there.
“The strongest theory is that it would be something that has happened in the valley that has maybe escalated and resulted in something bad happening to them.”
Three potential sightings of the pair in the area on 22 March are being investigated, including reports that an older woman with lipstick was seen looking “out of place”.
“Our inquiries so far would suggest it’s not Russell and Carol,” Det Insp Stamper told A Current Affair.
Last month, Victoria Police appealed for anyone who was in the Wonnangatta area at the time of the pair’s disappearance to come forward, however there was only a limited response.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who was in the area at that time, including campers, 4×4 day trippers, hunters, fishermen or trail bike riders, regardless of whether they saw or heard anything, so police can eliminate people and vehicles from their extensive investigation.
Anyone who was in the area of Howitt Plains and Zeka Spur Track on 19 or 20 March, and the Wonnangatta Valley and Wonnangatta Station between 20 to 24 March is also being urged to get in touch.
“At this stage, there is no one that we have spoken to, that we believe has any connection to this or any other disappearances in the area,” Det Insp Stamper added.
Ms Clay is a much-loved member of the Pakenham community and has served as the president of the local Country Women’s Association (CWA) branch for the previous four years.
Anyone who sights Russell or Carol is urged to contact triple zero (000) immediately.
Anyone with any other information regarding their disappearance or who has any CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
