One week after the brutal triple homicide that left a family of three dead on a remote property near Breddan, Queensland, the massive manhunt for 32-year-old Julian Ingram shows no sign of slowing — and police now believe he is not surviving alone.
The shootings occurred in the early hours of January 23, 2026, when Ingram allegedly killed two adults and their 12-year-old daughter on a rural property just outside Charters Towers. The victims were well-known locals with no known prior connection to Ingram, making the motive even more baffling. He fled the scene immediately and has been evading capture ever since.
Authorities have released new details that point to active assistance. “We have strong indications that someone is helping him,” Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Algie told reporters at a tense press conference on January 30. “He’s receiving food, water, possibly directions or shelter. He’s not doing this alone.” Police have not named suspects but confirmed they are interviewing several individuals known to Ingram, including former coworkers and acquaintances from the Charters Towers area. Mobile phone data, CCTV from regional roads, and sightings of a white utility vehicle matching Ingram’s last known transport have fueled the theory of a support network.
The extreme heat — consistently above 40°C with little relief forecast — is seen as both an advantage and a liability for authorities. “The conditions are punishing,” Algie said. “No one can survive long in this heat without water and shade. If he’s getting help, it’s keeping him alive — but it’s also leaving a trail.” Search teams have been expanded to include additional tactical units, drones with thermal imaging, and Aboriginal trackers familiar with the terrain. Roadblocks remain in place on major highways, and residents in isolated areas have been urged to report any unusual activity.
The community is living in fear. Neighbours within a 50-kilometer radius of the crime scene have described sleepless nights, locked doors, and shotguns kept close. “We don’t go outside after dark anymore,” said one resident who asked not to be named. “Every noise makes you think he’s out there — or someone helping him is watching.” Schools in nearby towns have increased security, and some families have temporarily relocated to relatives in Townsville or Cairns.
Ingram remains classified as armed and extremely dangerous. Police believe he may still have access to firearms taken from the property or obtained through associates. A reward of $500,000 — one of the largest ever offered in Queensland — continues to stand for information leading to his arrest. Tips have flooded in, but so far none have led to a breakthrough.
The case has gripped Australia, with nightly news coverage and social media groups dedicated to the manhunt growing by the day. Many are asking how a man with no known criminal history could commit such a crime and then vanish so effectively. Others point to the vastness of the outback: thousands of square kilometers of scrub, abandoned mines, and dry riverbeds provide endless hiding places.
As temperatures climb and the search intensifies, the central question remains: how much longer can Ingram keep running — and who is helping him do it? Police are clear: every hour he remains free increases the risk to the public. “We believe he is under extreme pressure,” Algie said. “He will make a mistake. And when he does, we’ll be there.”
For the residents of central Queensland, that moment cannot come soon enough. The fear is palpable, the nights are long, and the heat is unrelenting. Somewhere in the vast Australian bush, a fugitive hides — possibly with help — while an entire region waits for justice.
