Police reveal new details on search for Julian Ingram after suspected triple-murderer’s body found near Lake Cargelligo

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this story contains the image and name of a deceased Indigenous person. Police have shed new light on the scale of the search operation, as well as forensic testing and firearms analysis, after the suspected discovery of triple-murderer Julian Ingram in the NSW Central West. Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said the body - believed to belong to Ingram - was located at Brownhill Nature Reserve yesterday, with police now moving into formal identification and forensic analysis. “The deceased’s body has been removed,” Mr Holland said. “The post mortem will be carried out at New Parson … this Friday.” He said the vehicle found at the scene will be transported to Orange for forensic examination, with ballistic testing to follow on multiple weapons recovered. “There was a firearm located next to the deceased body, which was a large calibre firearm and a shotgun located on the front passenger seat.” Police said formal identification is still underway, but early evidence points strongly to Ingram, including a driver’s licence and clothing found at the scene. Investigators also confirmed there is no evidence at this stage that Ingram received assistance while on the run. While police are yet to formally identify the remains, they believe they are that of the suspected murderer, alleged of fatally shooting three people, including his ex-partner Sophie Quinn, 25. The bodies of Ms Quinn and her friend John Harris, 32, were found fatally shot inside a vehicle. Ms Quinn was pregnant at the time of her death. A short time later, reports emerged of shots being fired on Walker St, where police found the body of Ms Quinn’s aunt Nerida Quinn, 50 and Kaleb Macqueen, 19 – the sole survivor of the attack. Search effort spanned months Mr Holland said Ingram had not been sighted since fleeing, despite an extensive and prolonged operation. “We’ve had over 300 intelligence reports coming from members of the public advising us about information about this matter,” he said. “Each one of those has been investigated thoroughly.” He said police deployed specialist units, aerial support and more than 100 officers across multiple phases of the search. “The investigation has been continuing the entire time since the 22nd of January,” he said. “We’ve conducted multiple searches across about 60,000 in this area.” He said the location where the body was found sat between two major search zones. Police also addressed speculation that the body was located by chance after National Parks and Wildlife staff came across the scene. “The easiest way I explained it this morning was like putting a helicopter over the Sydney CBD and looking for something,” Mr Holland said. ‘Gutless’: Family speaks after manhunt ends Speaking to ABC, Ms Quinn’s relative said the death of Ingram didn’t bring justice. “It doesn’t bring them back,” they said. “Justice doesn’t coincide with stolen lives.” Sophie’s mother, Cathy, told 9News the alleged murderer was “gutless”. Her sister Tegan said “it was about time (police) found him”. “We can grieve but now it feels so real and it’s only hit me now,” she said. Questions raised about Ingram’s bail Julian Ingram was out on bail for domestic violence at the time of the alleged murders. As police determine the identity of the body and cause of death, questions have been raised about why Ingram was allowed out on bail. Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told Sunrise “considerations” are made before someone is allowed out on bail. “Obviously, with domestic violence offences there are considerations in relation to the safety of victims and the concerns around them, and the ability of the police to control that person’s actions around the street,” he said. “In this instance, Ingram’s release caused untold damage to a community and a number of families, and the concern around that has obviously been investigated as part of the critical incident investigation.” He said police would consider making changes to the bail process. “Police are looking at different ways and how we can amend the bail considerations,” he said. “Obviously, that will come out as part of the criminal investigation. “The changes will be obviously conducted as part of the review while the domestic family violence team, and we’ll obviously go from there.” Small town living in ‘anxiety’ A manhunt for 37-year-old Ingram began after three people were fatally shot in Lake Cargelligo. The NSW town, which is home to about 1500 people, was plunged into lockdown following the fatal shootings, with shops forced to temporarily shut their doors. Lachlan Shire mayor John Medcaff said the town had been living in fear for four months while the hunt for Ingram unfolded. “This has been going on for four months at least and people have been very anxious at not having any hint of where (he is) or closure at all, worried that he could come back,” he told ABC. “You never expect this to happen in that community, but it’s just something that they’ve got to deal with and hopefully we can help them with this news.” He said if the remains are confirmed to belong to Ingram, the victims’ family may not come closer to justice, but will have some closure. “In one way, they won’t get any more detail because he’s not with us,” he said. “But I think the word is closure and that’s the main thing we should look at.” Body of suspected triple murderer found in ‘very decomposed’ state Mr Holland confirmed the white Ford Ranger located next to the body was the one police believe Ingram was using. “Next to this vehicle, police have also located a male body in a very decomposed state,” Mr Holland told reporters on Monday. Mr Holland said there had been no confirmed sightings of the suspected murderer since he fled Lake Cargelligo in January. “Obviously, it’s a relief of those involved in the investigation, and probably a big relief for the people of Lake Cargelligo and the family involved,” he said. “The body’s yet to be formally identified, but we believe with the identification (a driver’s licence) at the scene that we’ve located and the clothing that the deceased is wearing, would lead us to believe that it is him.” Mr Holland is now working to determine how Ingram died.