Deep in the rugged wilderness of Mount Buffalo National Park, where dense eucalyptus forests swallow sound and ancient rock formations guard long-forgotten secrets, Australian authorities made a discovery that has sent shockwaves through the nation. Police have uncovered a hidden underground bunker belonging to the long-missing fugitive Dezi Freeman, the 56-year-old former football coach accused of murdering two Victoria Police officers in a deadly ambush in August 2025. The find, described by sources as a meticulously prepared survival hideout, contained stockpiles of non-perishable food, water purification systems, medical supplies, camouflage gear, ammunition, and personal items that paint a chilling portrait of a man who planned for years to vanish into the bush if cornered by law enforcement.
The revelation comes amid a renewed five-day search operation launched in early February 2026, prompted by intelligence—including reports of a single gunshot heard shortly after the initial shooting—that led investigators to believe Freeman’s remains might lie somewhere in the vast alpine terrain. Yet instead of a body, search teams stumbled upon this concealed fortress, buried beneath layers of earth and vegetation in a remote section of the park. The bunker, roughly 10 feet by 12 feet according to preliminary reports, featured reinforced concrete walls, a camouflaged entrance hatch disguised as natural rock outcrop, solar-powered ventilation, and even a small generator setup. It was no amateur dugout; experts familiar with survivalist constructions have called it “professional-grade prepper engineering,” suggesting Freeman had invested significant time and resources into creating a self-sustaining refuge capable of sustaining him for months—or longer.
Dezi Freeman’s name first exploded into public consciousness on August 26, 2025, when Victoria Police arrived at his semi-rural property on the outskirts of Porepunkah, a sleepy town in the state’s northeast alpine region, to execute a search warrant. The warrant stemmed from historic allegations of sexual abuse involving a young girl during a family outing years earlier at Mount Buffalo—the very wilderness now central to the manhunt. Freeman, a self-described “sovereign citizen” with a documented history of anti-government rhetoric, extreme conspiracy beliefs, and disdain for authority, was heavily armed. When officers approached, gunfire erupted. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart were killed in the exchange; a third officer was severely wounded. Freeman fled into thick bushland bordering his property, armed with multiple firearms—including an illegal homemade shotgun and at least one stolen police weapon—sparking what became the largest tactical manhunt in Australian history.
For months, Freeman evaded capture. Over 450 officers, specialist search teams, drones, helicopters equipped with thermal imaging, cadaver dogs, and even military support scoured the Victorian High Country. A $1 million reward was offered for information leading to his arrest. Locals speculated he might be hiding in one of the hundreds of old gold rush-era mineshafts dotting the region, structures that could shield body heat from aerial detection. Conspiracy theorists on social media amplified fears, suggesting Freeman had underground networks or sympathizers aiding his escape. Police repeatedly stated they “strongly believed” he was deceased, likely succumbing to exposure, injury, or self-inflicted harm in the harsh winter conditions of the alpine bush.
The bunker discovery flips that narrative on its head. Found during the February 2026 sweep—triggered by fresh intelligence about the post-shooting gunshot— the site showed signs of recent habitation. Empty food packets dated as late as late 2025, partially consumed water bottles, and discarded clothing items suggested someone had used it as a base. Personal effects linked to Freeman included notebooks filled with anti-authority rants, maps of the Mount Buffalo area marked with escape routes, and religious texts reflecting his devout yet fanatical worldview. One chilling item: a handwritten “manifesto” outlining his rejection of government jurisdiction, echoing the sovereign citizen ideology that fueled his hatred of police as “terrorist thugs.”
Freeman’s background adds layers of intrigue to the story. Once a respected youth football coach in regional Victoria, he coached junior teams and was known in community circles for his discipline and passion for the sport. But beneath the surface simmered deep-seated grievances. Court records show no prior convictions for violence or firearms offenses, but a pattern of minor infractions culminated in his driver’s license cancellation in 2022. He made repeated threats against police, compared them to Nazis, and even attempted a citizen’s arrest on a magistrate during court proceedings. His family described him as increasingly obsessive in the years leading up to the incident, influenced by conspiracy theories that intensified during the COVID era. Former friends and relatives noted his arsenal of firearms and prepper mindset—he stockpiled supplies, distrusted institutions, and prepared for societal collapse.
The sexual abuse allegations that prompted the fatal warrant add a darker dimension. Details, now emerging publicly, involve an incident years ago at Mount Buffalo where Freeman allegedly exposed himself in the presence of a child during a family outing. While not involving physical contact, the claims were serious enough to warrant investigation. Police descended on his Porepunkah property with ten officers, unaware of the homemade shotgun concealed in his bus or the depth of his preparedness. The ambush was swift and brutal, leaving two families shattered and a nation grappling with the rare spectacle of an armed standoff against law enforcement.
The bunker itself tells a story of paranoia and planning. Survival gear included MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), first-aid kits stocked for gunshot wounds, thermal blankets, night-vision goggles, and communication devices—possibly shortwave radios to monitor police frequencies. Food stockpiles could sustain one person for six months or more, with water filtration systems drawing from nearby streams. Ammunition caches suggested he anticipated prolonged resistance. Experts speculate the bunker may have been part of a larger network; sovereign citizen adherents often build hidden retreats as “off-grid” strongholds against perceived tyranny.
The discovery has reignited debate over the manhunt’s direction. Why wasn’t this site located earlier? Police face scrutiny over whether initial assessments underestimated Freeman’s capabilities. Critics point to the massive resources deployed—Australia’s largest tactical operation—yet no capture. Supporters argue the terrain’s vastness and Freeman’s local knowledge made evasion feasible. The renewed search, involving over 100 officers and volunteers, now shifts focus: is Freeman still alive, using other hideouts? Or did he perish after stocking this bunker, perhaps from a self-inflicted wound following the gunshot report?
Community impact runs deep. Porepunkah, a quiet town of fewer than 1,000, remains scarred. Residents who knew Freeman as a coach or neighbor struggle to reconcile the man they thought they knew with the alleged killer. The deaths of Thompson and De Waart-Hottart—dedicated officers serving a warrant—have prompted national mourning and calls for better risk assessments in high-threat executions. Freeman’s family, including an estranged brother who believes he died early in the escape, has spoken publicly of grief mixed with disbelief.
As investigators comb the bunker for DNA, fingerprints, and digital clues, questions multiply. Did Freeman have accomplices? Was this bunker one of many? Could he have slipped away to New Zealand or elsewhere, as some sightings claimed? Police maintain he is “most likely deceased,” but the find injects uncertainty. The wilderness of Mount Buffalo, with its sheer cliffs, hidden gullies, and unpredictable weather, continues to guard its secrets.
This shocking discovery isn’t just about one man’s flight from justice—it’s a stark reminder of how ideology, when fused with firearms and isolation, can erupt into tragedy. Dezi Freeman, the former coach turned fugitive, built a life underground long before he vanished into the bush. Now, as forensic teams sift through his hidden lair, Australia waits to learn if the bunker holds the final chapter—or merely another twist in an enduring mystery.
The wilderness keeps its silence, but the echoes of that fatal August day refuse to fade. In the shadow of Mount Buffalo, truth lies buried, waiting to be unearthed.
