By Mikaela Ortolan, ABC News
Dezi Freeman allegedly shot dead police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart, prompting a manhunt. Photo: ABC / Supplied
In short:
Victoria Police have conducted a "targeted" search focused on finding evidence or the body of Dezi Freeman.
Freeman is accused of shooting two police officers in Victoria's north-east in August before he disappeared into nearby bushland.
What's next?
No trace of Freeman was found during the five-day search, and the investigation continues.
Victoria Police said a targeted search has focused on locating evidence or the body of fugitive Dezi Freeman, four months after he allegedly fatally shot two police officers in Porepunkah, in north-east Victoria.
In a statement on Friday, a police spokesperson said an extensive targeted search of the Mount Buffalo National Park had been carried out in the past week as part of its ongoing investigation.
Victoria Police said the same area was previously searched in September, "with the purpose of locating an active armed offender".
"However, on this occasion, search teams were focused on identifying and locating evidence or the body of Freeman," a police spokesperson said.
Police conducted line searches and cleared caves during the latest search for Dezi Freeman. Photo: Supplied / Victoria Police / ABC News
Senior constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson were shot dead while executing a warrant related to historic sexual offences at Freeman's rural property on 26 August.
A third officer was injured.
During last week's targeted search, officers scoured through less than one square kilometre of thick bush and heavy terrain.
Police said no trace of Freeman had been located during that time.
The Drone Unit and the Dog Squad have been involved in the search. Photo: Supplied / Victoria Police / ABC News
Police vow to do 'everything' possible to find fugitive
Freeman was last seen heading towards bushland behind his property after the fatal shooting.
Since then, hundreds of officers and specialist resources from across Victoria and other states of Australia, as well as New Zealand, have been poured into the search efforts.
The main focus has been the Mount Buffalo National Park and the surrounding areas.
Detectives have also investigated almost 2,000 pieces of intelligence, including information from the public.
Victoria Police said it will maintain its presence around the national park and local area. Photo: Supplied / Victoria Police / ABC News
Assistant commissioner Martin O'Brien said, despite not being able to locate Freeman so far, officers were not giving up.
"I want to reaffirm to the community that Victoria Police remains committed to doing everything we can - using every available resource and the necessary capabilities - to locate Desmond Freeman," he said.
"We will continue to conduct targeted searches such as this one based on intelligence. We will maintain a presence in the community, and we are determined we will see this to resolution."
During a press conference last month, after Victoria Police chief commissioner Mike Bush had visited Porepunkah, he said detectives were unsure if Freeman was dead or alive.
"Even though we're getting information, we've had no positive sightings, and we're still no clearer as to whether he's dead or alive," Bush said.
Despite the focus on searching for a body, a AU$1 million reward remains for any information that leads to the arrest of Freeman, the largest arrest reward in Victorian history.
- ABC
