New search area for alleged triple murderer Julian Ingram is declared almost 100km away after he allegedly shot dead his pregnant ex and her new partner – and the chilling question cops can’t rule out
A possible sighting of alleged murderer Julian Ingram has forced armed police to descend on a small settlement just under 100 kilometres from where three people were gunned down on Thursday.
It’s believed Ingram was sighted in Mount Hope at around midnight on Saturday with the same car he is alleged to have fled in.
Ingram, 37, allegedly gunned down his heavily pregnant ex Sophie Quinn, 25, in a black Suzuki hatchback, alongside her new boyfriend John Harris, 32, in Lake Cargelligo, 600km west of Sydney on Thursday afternoon.
He then allegedly went to another residence and killed her aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50, and seriously injured Nerida’s 19‑year‑old neighbour, Kaleb MacQueen.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said police are currently searching multiple properties in the area.
One local claimed to have seen Ingram near the Mount Hope Cemetery.
The Daily Mail has contacted NSW Police for comment.
Assistant Commissioner Holland was asked by a reporter on Sunday whether Ingram could be getting help from locals, and replied he could not rule out the possibility.
Police have descended on a remote settlement after reports Julian Ingram was sighted there in the early hours of Sunday morning
A 100-strong police force is present in the region as they hunt Ingram down
Pregnant Sophie Quinn was shot dead alongside her boyfriend on Thursday in NSW
It’s believed Ingram was sighted in Mount Hope at around midnight on Saturday with the same car he is alleged to have fled in
‘We think that he’s on his own at this present time, but, again, we can’t rule out the possibility that he’s been assisted by locals,’ he said.
‘Tactical police are in that location now carrying out searches… obviously with an armed offender in that area, we are asking members for the public to exercise extreme caution.
‘There is no lockdown in the area, but people need to be careful about their movements, and obviously, report to the police any unusual activity.’
Assistant Commissioner Holland said Mount Hope is an area that Ingram has ‘very good knowledge of’.
Police are also asking for anyone who has information regarding a vehicle with the registration number DM-07-GZ to call triple zero immediately.
The remote settlement, which has a population of 16 people according to the 2021 ABS Census, is about an hour’s drive north from Lake Cargelligo.
Ingram has been on the run since the alleged murders, with about 100 police officers searching for him in the surrounding areas.
On Sunday morning, police were spotted searching through a property in Lake Cargelligo.
Local resident Baden, who is friends with Ingram, said he hadn’t seen him since Monday when they both reported for bail at the police station
Police searched Baden’s address on Sunday morning as the hunt for Ingram continues
The man who lived there told the Daily Mail police had ‘turned up because people were calling CrimeStoppers saying he was coming and going from here.’
The man, named Baden, said he was friends with Ingram but confirmed he hadn’t spoken to or seen him since Monday at the police station when they both reported for bail at the same time.
He said Ingram seemed fine on Monday and that was the last he’d seen of him.
A heavily armed police convoy was also seen searching a property north-west of Lake Cargelligo on Saturday morning.
The convoy included a Bearcat containing heavily armed tactical officers, SUVs carrying detectives, and two medical response units.
Bullet casings could be seen at the entrance to the sprawling property, and the padlock securing the gate had been cut open, but resecured with a zip-tie.
When Daily Mail contacted the custodian of the station, he shared a startling revelation – not only did he know the accused killer well, but that he suspected Ingram could be hiding on one of the properties in the area.
‘(Ingram) used to work as a brush cutter for years and years, he is very familiar with those parts,’ the source, who lives in another town, said.
A convoy of police and medical units entered this property on Saturday morning
‘There are brush-cutter camps out there, with food in the camps, and he would be aware of that.’
The source said Ingram worked together with his father as a brush-cutter – harvesting bush for fencing – around five to 10 years ago.
The source, who has known Ingram for several years, said he also suspects the wanted fugitive – who police said is armed with at least one gun – ‘could also have shot himself or be halfway to South Australia by now.’
Ingram is described as between 165cm and 170cm tall, with a medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes.
Police believe his vehicle is a single-cab, Ford utility trayback.
Police say anyone who sees Ingram or his vehicle should call 000 or contact CrimeStoppers immediately.
