Found Deceased Australia - Russell Hill, 74, & Carol Clay, 72, Wonnangatta Valley, 20 March 2020 #3

[Marchalot]

I wonder if they made friends up there in the high country , like socialising at local pubs or something

The one thing we do know is that RH had recently been camping alone. So, for whatever reason, he and his wife had certainly come to an arrangement where he would regularly go off to spend a week away without her, and IMO he had reached the same arrangement with CC.

 

[4Erica]

They haven't really stated anything of the wife's reaction or feelings about it. Only recall a bit of shock- obviously

I've been reading all the articles since I just heard about this yesterday. They all seem to repeat quotes from a pay article. Makes her seem very cool. Packing his things after a month, sure they are dead at a month, calling him a silly bugger, the fact that the friend actually told her to call the police - not herself as many of the articles I read seemed to imply. Other things I can't think of right now.

 

[Satchie]

I wonder if they made friends up there in the high country , like socialising at local pubs or something

IDK, us outdoorsy types usually go into the wilderness to get away from meaningless social activies, not to create new ones.

 

[nao]

If the affair had been going on for 20 years, I think the wife would of known. Moo.. she said.....silly bugger......not..... omg how could he. Divorce would destabilize her life and acceptance is easier. Moo

 

[Marchalot]

I wonder if they made friends up there in the high country , like socialising at local pubs or something

The one thing we do know is that RH had recently been camping alone. So, for whatever reason, he and his wife had certainly come to an arrangement where he would regularly go off to spend a week away without her, and IMO he had reached the same arrangement with CC.

IDK, us outdoorsy types usually go into the wilderness to get away from meaningless social activies, not to create new ones.

IDK, us outdoorsy types usually go into the wilderness to get away from meaningless social activies, not to create new ones.

So many outdoorsy's come up from Melbourne and catch up at a pub like a tradition, some move up bc of the friendships they make & the peace of the bush

 

[Theodora]

They haven't really stated anything of the wife's reaction or feelings about it. Only recall a bit of shock- obviously

One article (sorry I didn't note which when I saw it) said the wife said something like "I hope they're ok. I hope the silly bugger (ie RH, I believe silly bugger is an exact quote) comes back soon"

 

[Theodora]

The one thing we do know is that RH had recently been camping alone. So, for whatever reason, he and his wife had certainly come to an arrangement where he would regularly go off to spend a week away without her, and IMO he had reached the same arrangement with CC.

I know the reports all state that RH camped alone a week or so earlier but is it possible CC was with him then too and he just pretended he had been alone, as he did on the last trip when they disappeared?

 

[SouthAussie]

I know the reports all state that RH camped alone a week or so earlier but is it possible CC was with him then too and he just pretended he had been alone, as he did on the last trip when they disappeared?

It is very possible. I don't believe that we have heard the police say that Russell was alone during that camping excursion? And it is the police who would likely know, if they have background checked to see where Carol was that weekend ... if anyone saw her or was with her elsewhere while Russell was away.

 

[Marchalot]

One article (sorry I didn't note which when I saw it) said the wife said something like "I hope they're ok. I hope the silly bugger (ie RH, I believe silly bugger is an exact quote) comes back soon"

Wouldn't be my reaction, but then maybe I might be over the spouse given ........ : long time marriages can end up just as friends . She might not have cared in the end romantically , but still cared about the person

 

[trixie_au]

Wouldn't be my reaction, but then maybe I might be over the spouse given ........ : long time marriages can end up just as friends . She might not have cared in the end romantically , but still cared about the person

That’s what I think too. My grandparents were married for over 50 years, but for at least the last 19yrs of that marriage (age I was when grandfather died) they were still very good friends but had separate bedrooms and lived separate lives. Grandma was always jet-setting off here and there alone, grandfather had his hobbies and trips he did alone - I think he knew where the money was, and she just liked the convenience of having a husband. The feel I get about RH and his wife reminds me a bit of them. Some marriages are just comfortable, not always romantic.

ETA: And there were ‘friends’ along the way in my grandparents marriage, for both of them, but no-one ever left anyone. Just made me wonder, RH had CC, but did Mrs RH also have a ‘friend’..?

 

[trixie_au]

I know the reports all state that RH camped alone a week or so earlier but is it possible CC was with him then too and he just pretended he had been alone, as he did on the last trip when they disappeared?

This article states the police know he wasn’t with CC that previous trip. I guess mobile phone data (tower pings) would easily prove it. I also thought they’d spoken to someone who saw him camped alone, but can’t find the article atm.

“Detectives have established Mr Hill was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of King Billy and Bluff Track, between March 11 and 13.”
Police renew search in Victorian high country for missing campers

 

[SuziQ]

I am thinking that the wallet and cards being strewn around the vehicle was an attempt to make the whole thing look like a robbery gone wrong - which it wasn't.

Staging

 

[4Erica]

We had our property logged. Hubby got to know the logger pretty well. He was married - if you could call it that. He would get up before dawn and worked late. They had nothing to do with one another except to get the kids and grandkids together. They took separate vacations, didn't eat together. Rarely saw one another and when they did they fought. I was reminded of them when I read that RH was a logger and they didn't even communicate while he was working (she couldn't talk on the radio because she wasn't licensed ).

 

[Marchalot]

This article states the police know he wasn’t with CC that previous trip. I guess mobile phone data (tower pings) would easily prove it. I also thought they’d spoken to someone who saw him camped alone, but can’t find the article atm.

“Detectives have established Mr Hill was camping alone with his Landcruiser in the area of King Billy and Bluff Track, between March 11 and 13.”
Police renew search in Victorian high country for missing campers

I don't know where I saw it ? But somewhere i read that someone said RH had been up 3 times in that last month. I did try & find it again but couldn’t. I know what I read, but may have been wrong or a misprint

 

[trixie_au]

They haven't really stated anything of the wife's reaction or feelings about it. Only recall a bit of shock- obviously

I remember when this first happened it was all a bit confusing, did she know CC was with him, didn’t she know CC was with him, etc.. seemed to be conflicting stories before finally settling on no she didn’t know he was camping with CC.

BUT... my thinking at the time, and still is, what else could she say? Publically declare she knew her husband was off in the woop-woops with another woman, thus sending the subtle but potentially embarrassing message that she was quite okay with it? Or deny knowing, and thus saving face by allowing the media to portray her as the poor wife who was being deceived?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I recall reading that too.
It's probably lost in one of the posts here but I do remember saying that it seems he didn't spend much time at home.

I don't know where I saw it ? But somewhere i read that someone said RH had been up 3 times in that last month. I did try & find it again but couldn’t. I know what I read, but may have been wrong or a misprint

 

[bearbear]

i wonder if the whole camp was staged and set up by someone else and they were killed straight after the last radio call before setting up camp?
friend rob thinks the camp looked out of character for russells usual set up, he led police to the exact location......
Mr Ashlin also knew his friend wouldn’t set up the campsite in the way it was found, with items scattered around everywhere.

“I knew straight away in my own mind that something really unforgiving had happened,” he said, after he had seen photos of the destroyed campsite.
Carol CLAY and Russell HILL

 

[bearbear]

such a lonely spot
Under Investigation examines the High Country mystery: The campfire hiding secrets and the missing drone - what happened to Russell and Carol

 

[Beans]

I can’t believe his wife wasn’t aware of their relationship. She might choose to say as much now to preserve her dignity but chances are super slim that she was oblivious. I can’t believe that, but it’s her call how she handles it all obviously. Sometimes adults choose to accept things for all sorts of reasons. I wouldn’t want to judge.

 

[JLZ]

i wonder if the whole camp was staged and set up by someone else and they were killed straight after the last radio call before setting up camp?
friend rob thinks the camp looked out of character for russells usual set up, he led police to the exact location......
Mr Ashlin also knew his friend wouldn’t set up the campsite in the way it was found, with items scattered around everywhere.

“I knew straight away in my own mind that something really unforgiving had happened,” he said, after he had seen photos of the destroyed campsite.
Carol CLAY and Russell HILL

Me too. Also whether Russell's vehicle was used to move the bodies.