The secret hiding hole of fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman was revealed in a social media post four years ago, but it’s exact location still remains a mystery – and not even his closest family members know where it is.
The remote location, hidden deep in the rugged slopes of Mount Buffalo, is where detectives now believe Freeman could have vanished after allegedly gunning down two officers.
The area – dubbed ‘Buffalo Creek’ by Freeman – does not appear on any map searches of the region and the only proof it exists is in a single photograph obtained by Daily Mail.
As the manhunt for the self-proclaimed sovereign citizen moves into its third week, investigators are urgently trying to track it down, convinced it could have been his secret refuge from the authorities.
‘He wouldn’t tell any of us exactly where it was and I have no doubt he headed there,’ one of Freeman’s most trusted sources told Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.
‘I know the details have been provided to the police but, before all of this, no one we know has ever been able to find it.
‘He is fiercely protective over that location and I wouldn’t be surprised if he had taken tubs of essentials up there long before (the alleged incident) and has them stashed already.’
Ten officers descended on Freeman’s compound in Porepunkah, 300 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, on August 26 to execute a search warrant linked to historic allegations that he had sexually assaulted a minor.
A remote sanctuary of Dezi Freeman (pictured) is where detectives now believe the fugitive may have vanished to after he allegedly shot two police officers
Freeman had spoken of a secret place on his social media account
Freeman’s alleged refuge is believed to be hidden deep within the rugged slopes of Mt Buffalo
After two officers were shot dead, Freeman fled into the bush where it is understood he still remains on the run.
Daily Mail also understands investigators are now working with Meta in a desperate bid to gain access to Freeman’s multiple social media accounts to find fresh leads as the 450-strong manhunt continues with seemingly no real progress.
While Freeman used his Facebook, which has public posts, to condemn and attack police and authorities, his Instagram paints a different picture of the father-of-three.
Locked from prying eyes, access to Freeman’s Instagram page is only for his family and lifelong friends. Within it, he shared his passion for nature and loving photos of his children.
It was here that Freeman is understood to have often spoken of his secret spot, a place he made a point of keeping as his most tightly guarded secret.
One single photo posted in 2021 now offers the vital clue that police desperately need.
Along with a photo of an unusual rock pool formation high in the mountainous terrain against a backdrop of thick forest, Freeman wrote:
‘My happy place. Buffalo Creek. Here I am me, I am in my element, I am connected, I am where I belong, I am who I am.’
Detectives have attempted to map the route Freeman could have used to reach his refuge
That same post continued with a cryptic message about an alleged long-running dispute he had with a neighbour he calls ‘Satan’s helpers’.
The alleged clash has since taken on new significance as detectives have attempted to map the route Freeman could have used to reach his potential refuge.
‘This is what Satan’s little helpers tried to stop me from accessing,’ the Instagram entry said.
‘Like a native dispossessed of their sacred lands, I will fight to the end.’
Friends have said they believe the remoteness of the site and the lack of any official map name for Buffalo Creek is deliberate.
‘Dezi got married to Mali on that mountain, their youngest baby was born there right outside their bus and he will die there too,’ one said.
But the friend warned that it is unlikely this is the last Australia will hear from him, claiming that Freeman has unfinished business.
‘Despite everything. Dezi loves his kids and I do think he will want to get a last message to them, even if it’s to say goodbye,’ they said.
‘His son Koah actually said earlier in the week that his dad was like Rambo and while that sounds kind of funny, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.’
The friend claimed Freeman regularly binged the famous movie First Blood and was obsessed with the 1982 movie.
The story follows Rambo who, after entering a small town and clashing with the police, attempts to survive a manhunt using his expertise in survival and combat.
Eventually Rambo heads back to the town and the sheriff’s office to seek out his final revenge.
‘That’s probably what he will be waiting for,’ the friend alleged.
The delay in finding Freeman has left the community on edge. Locals in surrounding towns have increased vigilance and police patrols remain heavy through the park and along access roads.
Locals who know the high country well admit the terrain is brutal and easy to get lost in, which makes the search difficult and dangerous.
About 450 police officers and the Australian Defence Force continue to hunt for Freeman as the search enters its third week.
Police have also searched more than 100 properties in the surrounding towns and have received hundreds of tips and pieces of new information since announcing a $1million reward.