Locals warned against helping alleged triple murderer as manhunt continues
Warning: This story contains names and images of deceased Indigenous people.
The state’s top cop has warned Midwestern residents to help an alleged triple killer who continues to evade police as authorities investigate water sources and abandon mine shafts in the remote region.
Julian Ingram has been on the run for a week after allegedly killing his heavily pregnant ex-partner Sophie Quinn, 24, along with John Harris, 32, and Quinn’s aunt Nerida, 50, at Lake Cargelligo on the afternoon of January 22.
19-year-old Kaleb Macqueen was also injured during the shooting.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has warned locals not to help the 37-year-old, also known as Julian Pierpoint, as he continues to evade the massive manhunt.
“What he has [allegedly] “An atrocity committed here… is completely unacceptable,” Lanyon said in a statement after his visit to the region on Thursday.
“Anyone thinking of helping him, think again… If we have evidence of this, you will be charged.
“We are determined to bring Mr. Ingram to trial.”
Numerous potential sightings of Ingram were reported last week, prompting widespread searches as temperatures regularly exceeded 40 degrees.
Police officers flocked to Mount Hope, northwest of Lake Cargelligo, in the days following the shooting after witnesses reported seeing it.
“At this point, based on what they’re telling us, we believe it could be him, but that hasn’t been officially confirmed yet,” Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said Thursday.
For days, police searched tens of thousands of hectares of land where Ingram could hide, where disused mines were located.
Ingram is described as an experienced forester who would have knowledge of the area through his work as a municipal gardener.
“He’s aware of where the water sources are, he’s aware of where the hidden holes are, like caves,” Holland said.
“We need to work systematically on these locations.”
Police released additional footage on Tuesday of Lachlan Shire Council’s ute Ingram arriving here on the afternoon of the shootings, but Holland said on Thursday he would be “angry” if Ingram was still driving the same vehicle.
Police are investigating the driver of a red motorcycle who reportedly failed to stop for police on Wednesday.
“But again, that hasn’t been confirmed,” Holland said.
The search Wednesday expanded to Kiacatoo, northeast of Lake Cargelligo and about 60 miles from Mount Hope.
Local farmer Dean Phillips told Nine News he and his family were not staying in Kiacatoo when police searched for Ingram on Wednesday.
“We don’t want to be here, we’re too worried to stay here,” he said.
“You know, it’s very difficult to find someone here, especially on these remote roads, it’s very difficult,” Phillips said.
Lachlan Shire Council Mayor John Medcalf said local people were staying in their homes.
“Everyone is nervous as the suspect is still at large,” he told AAP.
Reporting to police every day was one of Ingram’s bail conditions.
The Temporary Domestic Violence Arrest Warrant also prohibited Ingram from approaching Quinn in the weeks after he allegedly shot her and Harris as they sat in Quinn’s black Suzuki Swift on Bokhara Street.
“We are looking at bail conditions but that will form part of the investigation,” Holland said.
Lanyon described domestic and family violence as an ongoing “scourge” on society.
“Last year we charged more than 33,000 people with domestic and family violence attacks, which is disgraceful,” Lanyon said.
Additionally, 33,000 individual bail orders had to be made by police sergeants and courts enforcing the state’s bail law; This was a decision in which police would “work closely with the government” in the wake of the triple shooting.
Lanyon said, “The decision regarding the law is the responsibility of the government. As a police force, we are determined to provide support to the victims.”
Prime Minister Chris Minns and government ministers declined to comment on bail decisions or whether legislation changes were necessary while the search was ongoing.
Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
