At a Supreme Court trial, it was revealed that police had secretly recorded Gregory Lynn, the accused killer of missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay, along with his wife discussing the search for the couple. The couple had watched a 60 Minutes episode airing in November 2021, which featured the disappearance of Hill, aged 74, and Clay, aged 73. The program mentioned that every vehicle in the Wonnangatta Valley at the time had been eliminated except for a dark blue Nissan Patrol, which was considered a significant lead in the investigation. A journalist on the program shared a picture captured from a roadside camera of a car and trailer that police were seeking to identify, to which Melanie Lynn remarked that it looked like her husband’s car and trailer.
Following the 60 Minutes episode, Gregory Lynn was seen on CCTV footage removing a black awning from the passenger side of his Nissan Patrol. This action was noted by Detective Senior Constable Brett Florence, who mentioned that a listening device had been placed in the couple’s home as part of a police strategy. He explained that the TV program was used as one of the avenues to elicit information in the investigation, along with other media strategies. The use of the program was part of the police’s efforts to gather evidence and leads in the case of the missing campers, Hill and Clay.
The trial proceedings also included the presence of Gregory Lynn’s son, Geordie, and his wife Melanie outside the court. The family members were likely observing or supporting Lynn during the trial, which involved significant revelations and evidence linked to the disappearance of Hill and Clay. The court was shown traffic camera footage of Lynn’s Nissan Patrol that was featured on 60 Minutes, highlighting the vehicle that had not been eliminated from the investigation as a potential lead in the case. The use of these visual aids and recordings was crucial in establishing connections and uncovering potential clues in the search for the missing campers.
Detective Senior Constable Brett Florence emphasized the importance of utilizing various media strategies, such as the 60 Minutes program, in the investigation of the missing campers’ case. These tools were part of the police’s efforts to gather information and potential leads that could aid in solving the mystery surrounding Hill and Clay’s disappearance. The use of a listening device in the Lynn’s home was another tactic employed by the authorities to gather evidence and monitor conversations that could provide valuable insights into the case. By combining different approaches and technologies, the police aimed to piece together a comprehensive picture of what happened to the missing campers.
The clips played in court, along with the CCTV footage and other visual evidence, provided a detailed account of Gregory Lynn and his wife’s behavior and remarks following the media coverage of the missing campers. The recordings captured conversations and actions that were analyzed by the authorities to establish connections and potential motives in the case. The involvement of family members like Geordie Lynn and Melanie Lynn in the trial proceedings added a personal element to the legal proceedings, shedding light on the impact of the investigation on the accused and his loved ones. The use of media tools and surveillance techniques played a crucial role in unraveling the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Russell Hill and Carol Clay, contributing to the ongoing efforts to seek justice and closure for the victims and their families.
