After an agonising three-month wait, the families of Carol Clay and Russell Hill finally received confirmation that human remains found in Dargo belong to their loved ones.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed on Monday 14 February that forensic testing on the remains were complete and that the identities of the bodies were of Pakenham’s Carol Clay and her camping partner Russell Hill, of Drouin.
“The Coroner has advised Victoria Police that the remains are that of Russell Hill and Carol Clay. As the matter is before the court, we will not be providing any further comment,” police said in a statement.
The human remains were found on 30 November 2021 as part of the ongoing investigation into the pair’s disappearance.
Ms Clay and Mr Hill were last heard from on 20 March 2020 while they were on a camping trip in the Wonnangatta Valley.
The identification of the remains followed the arrest of 55-year-old airline pilot Greg Lynn on 22 November 2021, who was later charged with two counts murder.
In June 2022, it was revealed there could be more searches of a remote Victorian alpine region campsite where campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay were allegedly murdered.
The accused man faced Sale Magistrates Court on Tuesday 21 June ahead of a contested committal hearing scheduled for January.
The Lynn’s barrister Dermot Dann told a brief hearing that he had received a “highlights package” of covert surveillance on Lynn’s car and home, but had not receive full recordings or transcripts.
Prosecutor Olivia Sparrow said there were listening device and phone intercept transcripts still to be handed over to the defence.
“Also there may be a further search to be completed at Wonnangatta and Mount Hotham,” she said.
Lynn did not apply for bail and remains in custody.
