Investigators have found human remains during their search for missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay in Victoria’s alpine region.

The remains were found in bushland near Dargo in the state’s high country.

“The remains are yet to be formally identified, and it is expected this process will take some time,” said the statement issued by the local police.

Authorities scaled up their search for Hill and Clay, who have been missing for 20 months. They were believed to have been murdered.


Last week, former Jetstar pilot Greg Lynn was charged with two counts of murder in relation to the pair’s disappearance. The police also seized his beige four-wheel-drive Nissan Patrol.

Mr Lynn has been taken into custody until a court hearing scheduled for May next year. He is yet to enter a plea.

After last week’s announcement that Lynn had been charged, officer Bob Hill said the police investigation was “far from over”.

“We are hopeful that we will locate the remains of Mr Hill and Ms Clay and provide closure to their families,” said the assistant commissioner.

It was believed that on March 19, Mr Hill left his Drouin home in a white Toyota Land Cruiser to pick up Ms Clay from her home in Pakenham.

The pair then travelled to Licola and spent 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 on March 20 via his high-frequency radio, stating he was at Wonnangatta Valley in the Victorian Alps.

Other campers found Mr Hill’s vehicle the next day with signs of minor fire damage. Their campsite was discovered already burnt out near the Dry River Creek Track.

Items including Mr Hill’s drone were reportedly yet to be recovered.

Police temporarily postponed their search after the weekend’s stormy weather thwarted earlier efforts. Police restarted their search in earnest on Monday and were seen carting an all-terrain buggy to the search site.

“We have a considerable number of police specialist resources attending; it is going to be a painstaking search that could take some considerable time,” said inspector Matt Gleeson.