Anonymous

He had been cooperative, phone records placed him far from where Russell and Carol disappeared and he never became a serious suspect. Yet, the media's fascination had already taken hold, with tabloids branding the button man as spooky and bloody scary. Locals defended him. They knew him as an eccentric but civil bushman who asked only for privacy.

He had been cooperative, phone records placed him far from where Russell and Carol disappeared and he never became a serious suspect. Yet, the media's fascination had already taken hold, with tabloids branding the button man as spooky and bloody scary. Locals defended him. They knew him as an eccentric but civil bushman who asked only for privacy.

He had been cooperative, phone records placed him far from where Russell and Carol disappeared and he never became a serious suspect. Yet, the media's fascination had already taken hold, with tabloids branding the button man as spooky and bloody scary. Locals defended him. They knew him as an eccentric but civil bushman who asked only for privacy.

The button man has been tried, found guilty and hung out to dry by Metro Media, wrote a journalist for the Mansfield Courier. The publicity proved devastating. Tourists flocked to the area in search of the butterman's sanctuary, forcing him into temporary relocation. Though investigators cleared him, he had become an urban legend, distracting from the real mystery of Russell and Carol's fate.

The button man has been tried, found guilty and hung out to dry by Metro Media, wrote a journalist for the Mansfield Courier. The publicity proved devastating. Tourists flocked to the area in search of the butterman's sanctuary, forcing him into temporary relocation. Though investigators cleared him, he had become an urban legend, distracting from the real mystery of Russell and Carol's fate.

The button man has been tried, found guilty and hung out to dry by Metro Media, wrote a journalist for the Mansfield Courier. The publicity proved devastating. Tourists flocked to the area in search of the butterman's sanctuary, forcing him into temporary relocation. Though investigators cleared him, he had become an urban legend, distracting from the real mystery of Russell and Carol's fate.

When Victoria entered winter, the Wanangatta Valley grew more forbidding, putting a halt to physical searches for the couple. Though the searches paused, investigators pursued every other lead, including alleged sightings at supermarkets that were checked against CCTV footage. Detectives also looked into reports of a reclusive illegal hunter with security cameras and an unsolved death in his past.

When Victoria entered winter, the Wanangatta Valley grew more forbidding, putting a halt to physical searches for the couple. Though the searches paused, investigators pursued every other lead, including alleged sightings at supermarkets that were checked against CCTV footage. Detectives also looked into reports of a reclusive illegal hunter with security cameras and an unsolved death in his past.

When Victoria entered winter, the Wanangatta Valley grew more forbidding, putting a halt to physical searches for the couple. Though the searches paused, investigators pursued every other lead, including alleged sightings at supermarkets that were checked against CCTV footage. Detectives also looked into reports of a reclusive illegal hunter with security cameras and an unsolved death in his past.

Phone data quickly eliminated him as a suspect, but detectives suspected that hunting might have still played a role in the case. The high country attracted both legal and illegal hunters pursuing sambar deer, whose antlers attracted high prices. While stalking was permitted year-round, strict regulations prohibited hunting near campsites and spotlight hunting.

Phone data quickly eliminated him as a suspect, but detectives suspected that hunting might have still played a role in the case. The high country attracted both legal and illegal hunters pursuing sambar deer, whose antlers attracted high prices. While stalking was permitted year-round, strict regulations prohibited hunting near campsites and spotlight hunting.

Phone data quickly eliminated him as a suspect, but detectives suspected that hunting might have still played a role in the case. The high country attracted both legal and illegal hunters pursuing sambar deer, whose antlers attracted high prices. While stalking was permitted year-round, strict regulations prohibited hunting near campsites and spotlight hunting.

High Country musterer Lachlan Cullican had helped in the search for Russell and Carol and noticed an unusually high number of deer carcasses with antlers removed. This seemed to indicate that there was illegal poaching going on.

High Country musterer Lachlan Cullican had helped in the search for Russell and Carol and noticed an unusually high number of deer carcasses with antlers removed. This seemed to indicate that there was illegal poaching going on.

High Country musterer Lachlan Cullican had helped in the search for Russell and Carol and noticed an unusually high number of deer carcasses with antlers removed. This seemed to indicate that there was illegal poaching going on.

The Sporting Shooters Association expressed concern about organised poaching operations, stating these criminals are labelled as hunters when they are nothing more than criminals carrying out illegal activity. Detectives wondered if perhaps Russell had captured evidence of illegal hunting on his drone, leading to a confrontation.

The Sporting Shooters Association expressed concern about organised poaching operations, stating these criminals are labelled as hunters when they are nothing more than criminals carrying out illegal activity. Detectives wondered if perhaps Russell had captured evidence of illegal hunting on his drone, leading to a confrontation.

The Sporting Shooters Association expressed concern about organised poaching operations, stating these criminals are labelled as hunters when they are nothing more than criminals carrying out illegal activity. Detectives wondered if perhaps Russell had captured evidence of illegal hunting on his drone, leading to a confrontation.

Friends had described Russell as someone who didn't take crap from anyone, making it plausible that he could find himself in an altercation. An alternative possibility was that either Russell or Carol had been mistaken for prey through unclear thermal imaging equipment and accidentally shot, The panicked hunters might then have eliminated witnesses and destroyed evidence.

Friends had described Russell as someone who didn't take crap from anyone, making it plausible that he could find himself in an altercation. An alternative possibility was that either Russell or Carol had been mistaken for prey through unclear thermal imaging equipment and accidentally shot, The panicked hunters might then have eliminated witnesses and destroyed evidence.