Police locate human remains in search for missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay

Police have located human remains in Victoria’s high country which could be missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, detectives said: “Victoria Police has located human remains in bushland near Dargo as part of their ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

“The remains are yet to be formally identified and it is expected this process will take some time.”

A team of forensic experts made the grisly discovery in dense bushland near the Providence Spur Track, about 25 km north of Dargo in the state’s east.

Detectives have been leading the search since November 29, three days after Greg Lynn was charged with murdering Mr Hill and Ms Clay.

During the days leading up to the discovery, police have hauled in earthmoving equipment and excavators.

The discovery of the remains is the latest twist in the captivating 20-month case after the pair vanished from their Wonnagatta campsite on March 20 of last year.

Police will allege Lynn murdered the duo – aged in their 70s – when he next appears in court on May 31 next year.

Mr Hill first left his Drouin home on March 19, before collecting Ms Clay from her home in Pakenham in his white Toyota LandCruiser.

They then travelled via Licola, spending one night at Howitt High Plains before heading into Wonnangatta Valley.

Mr Hill – who did not tell his wife he was with Ms Clay – was last heard from the next day via HF radio, stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alps.

It will be alleged that other campers found Mr Hill’s vehicle the next day with signs of minor fire damage at their campsite, which was completely burnt out, near the Dry River Creek Track.

Since that time, police have conducted extensive searches of the area, including missing persons squad detectives, local police, the search and rescue squad, air wing, dog squad and even the Australian Federal Police.

The “exhaustive” investigation had police using specialist investigative techniques, questioning hundreds of people and eliminating hundreds of vehicles which culminated in last week’s arrest.

Commissioner Hill said it had been a “complex and exhausting” investigation.

The investigation ramped up a fortnight ago when police unveiled photos of a blue four-wheel-drive towing a trailer they believed could be linked to the case.

Police last week were then seen towing away Lynn’s 4WD for forensic examination in Melbourne.

The car – although a sandy brown colour – closely resembled the dark blue Nissan Patrol police had been searching for in recent months following a public appeal for the owner to come forward.

Commissioner Hill said police believed the trailer had been sold on Gumtree and would work with the organisation to track its whereabouts.

Lynn was stood down from his job as a Jetstar pilot following his arrest on November 22 where heavily armed officers swarmed a remote campsite in Arbuckle Junction, 1.5 hours south of Wonnangatta in the state’s east.

The 55-year-old was charged with two counts of murder, following three days of questioning and an exhaustive near two-year investigation by police.

Last week, Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill stressed the investigation was far from over, with investigators turning their minds to the search for the couple’s remains in bushland in Victoria’s Alps.

Forensic specialists were hopeful of finding the deceased and providing ultimate closure to the families, he added.

Lynn remains in police custody and will appear for a committal mention hearing next May.

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Missing Vic campers Russell Hill, Carol Clay