Police killer Dezi Freeman evaded authorities for more than 200 days before he was reportedly shot and killed by police on Monday morning.

Freeman shot and killed two police officers on August 26 last year before escaping and hiding in rugged bushland in north-east Victoria.

His evasion of police captured public attention primarily because it is so rare for fugitives to avoid capture for so long. The hunt for him was the largest tactical police operation in Australian history.

So, how do people like Freeman stay hidden for so long, considering the technology and resources available to police?

Long-term evasion is rare

During the hunt for Freeman, New Zealand police were similarly trying to locate a man called Tom Phillips, who evaded police for almost four years.

He disappeared with his three children just before Christmas 2021 and hid in dense bush in the North Island’s western Waikato region before being shot and killed by police in late 2025.

Both he and Freeman were skilled bushmen with deep local knowledge. And they likely received support from others.

“It would be very difficult for him to get where he was […] without........

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