Detectives warn whoever killed campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay should feel ‘very uncomfortable’

Detectives have warned whoever killed two elderly campers who went missing last year should feel ‘very uncomfortable’ as the secret couple’s children break their silence. 

Russell Hill, 74, left his property in Drouin, Victoria, on March 19 last year and picked up Carol Clay, 73, from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota Landcruiser. 

They had planned a trip in the rugged bushland of Wonnangatta Valley in East Gippsland from which they have never returned, with their campsite mysteriously destroyed by fire. 

Squad head Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said his team were edging closer to solving the mystery and now have a ‘very good picture of who was in the valley’ at the same time.

Russell Hill, 74, left his property in Drouin, Victoria , on March 20 last year and picked up Carol Clay, 73, from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota Landcruiser (pictured)

Russell Hill, 74, (pictured, left) had been friendly with Carol Clay, 73, (right) for decades before they started having an affair 

‘We’ll keep going until we get the answers and I’m confident that will happen. I’d like to think every day we’re getting closer,’ Inspector Stamper told the Herald Sun. 

The detective is convinced Ms Clay and Mr Hill never left the valley and said he has not narrowed the potential offender down to just one individual. 

‘We firmly believe they’re still in that area somewhere,’ he said. 

Detective Acting Sergeant Brett Florence told the publication that whoever killed the elderly campers should be ‘very uncomfortable’. 

Acting Sgt Florence said his team would ‘leave no stone unturned’ in their mammoth search efforts that have continued for nearly 20 months. 

Meanwhile, Mr Hill’s grieving daughters Colleen and Debbie have spoken out publicly for the first time in an effort to boost public awareness of the case.  

Last week marked their beloved father’s 76th birthday, with the pair admitting it was hard to grieve him when there was still uncertainty whether he was dead or alive. 

Sisters Colleen (left) and Debbie (right) have made an emotional plea for information on their father's whereabouts with those that know anything to contact Crime Stoppers

Sisters Colleen (left) and Debbie (right) have made an emotional plea for information on their father’s whereabouts with those that know anything to contact Crime Stoppers

The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne

The pair went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley, more than 200km north east of Melbourne

‘I don’t really believe he could be alive. He wouldn’t hide,’ Debbie said. 

‘It’s really hard. It’s not getting any better. It’s not knowing … you’re just stuck.’ 

The sisters say they miss their father’s phone calls and grieve for their children who didn’t get to know the practical, problem-solving man they grew up with. 

Ms Clay’s sister Jill has some choice words for whoever is responsible for the disappearance of her ‘vibrant and vivacious’ sister Carol. 

‘My message is that you’ve undertaken a heinous act. You’ve got to live with that for the rest of your life,’ she said. 

Jill said she had a bad feeling about the camping trip from the start and believes the ‘vile act’ was premeditated. 

 Cadaver dogs, which specialise in locating human remains, have been sent to the region twice but both times failed to find any trace of Ms Clay (left) or Mr Hill (right)

She echoed the sentiments of Mr Hill’s daughters when she said it was frustrating knowing so little and not being able to throw a funeral for her beloved sister.  

While Mr Hill had worked in the Gippsland logging industry for many years, Ms Clay had been heavily involved in the Country Women’s Association.

The 74-year-old man was last heard from on March 20 via HF radio, stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in Victoria’s high country. 

Ms Hill had told friends she was heading away and was expected to return home on March 28 or 29.

Campers found Russell’s vehicle with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely destroyed by fire, near Dry River Creek Track in the Wonnangatta Valley on March 21.  

Cadaver dogs, which specialise in locating human remains, have been sent to the region twice but both times failed to find any trace of the pair. 

An earlier school of thought from police was that Mr Hill and Mrs Clay (pictured) were ambushed or shot by deer hunters

An earlier school of thought from police was that Mr Hill and Mrs Clay (pictured) were ambushed or shot by deer hunters

Wild conspiracy theories about the disappearance have emerged, but investigators from the missing persons squad have long maintained the pair, who were engaged in a secret affair, were set upon by unknown attackers.

An earlier school of thought from police was that Mr Hill and Mrs Gray were ambushed or shot by deer hunters. 

Inspector Stamper previously told A Current Affair officers have zeroed in on a driver of a white ute that was seen in the valley a day before the pair disappeared. 

‘It might seem like only a very small possibility that those in the white ute will have information about Russell and Carol’s disappearance but we can’t afford to leave any stone unturned,’ he said. 

Investigators have been told Mr Hill took his DJI Mavic drone with him on the trip and the drone is still yet to be recovered. 

Victoria Police detectives moved their search 80km northwest to the Mount Hotham area in April where they found two shovels in thick bush off the Great Alpine Road. 

The status of those shovels remains unknown after they were sent off to be forensically examined.

Ms Clay (pictured) had been heavily involved in the Country Women's Association in Victoria

Ms Clay (pictured) had been heavily involved in the Country Women’s Association in Victoria

Investigators have focused on areas along the Dargo High Plains Road, Cynthia Range Track, Herne Spur Track and the Wonnangatta Track as a result of information obtained from previous searches.

Previous searches had seen detectives from the Missing Persons Squad joined by the police helicopter, drone unit, search and rescue and staff from Parks Victoria.

Information has been received about a sighting of an older person or pair in the Black Snake Creek, Eaglevale River crossing and the Ollies Jump area on March 22-23, but detectives have never been able to establish if it was the missing campers. 

Detectives and the pair’s devastated family members are now calling on the public to be their ‘eyes and ears’ as the weather begins to warm up. 

Authorities have asked anyone in the area to report findings of clothing, a drone, or any other clue that could help bring closure to the elderly camper’s families.  

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