A body believed to be that of Julian Ingram has been discovered in remote bushland in western New South Wales, bringing a dramatic development to the months-long investigation into the deadly Lake Cargelligo triple shooting that shocked Australia earlier this year.
New South Wales Police confirmed on Monday that human remains were found near an abandoned Ford Ranger utility vehicle in the Round Hill Nature Reserve, approximately 50 kilometers northwest of Lake Cargelligo. Authorities said the body was discovered in a “very decomposed state” beside a firearm, and investigators believe the deceased is Julian Ingram, although formal identification is still pending.
The 37-year-old had been the subject of an extensive manhunt since January 22, when police alleged he fatally shot his pregnant former partner, Sophie Quinn, her new partner John Harris, and Quinn’s aunt, Nerida Quinn, during a violent shooting spree in the rural New South Wales town. Another victim, 19-year-old Kaleb Macqueen, survived after being wounded in the attack.
According to investigators, Ingram fled the area immediately after the shootings, prompting one of the largest regional police searches in recent NSW history. Hundreds of officers, including tactical units, homicide detectives, drone operators, and aerial crews, were deployed over several months to search remote farmland, bushland, and national parks throughout the state’s central west.
Police said the body was located by National Parks and Wildlife Service workers conducting feral animal eradication operations in the reserve. Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland described the discovery as a moment of “closure” for both investigators and the Lake Cargelligo community, which had lived in fear and uncertainty during the prolonged search.
Authorities also confirmed that Ingram had been on bail over domestic violence-related charges involving Sophie Quinn at the time of the killings, sparking public scrutiny over earlier decisions surrounding his release. Investigations into police handling of the case and Ingram’s access to firearms remain ongoing.
Police have not officially confirmed the cause of death, though investigators say the firearm found near the body will undergo forensic examination as part of the continuing inquiry.