Manhunt widens after son’s alleged axe attack on brothers and elderly parents
A major manhunt is under way to find a man accused of assaulting his elderly parents and brother with an axe in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Peter O’Ryan, 48, has not been since the alleged attack left his brother Paul, 47, his mother Janine, 74, and 76-year-old father Keith with “extreme” injuries at a home on Cowies Road in Tyers about 12.30pm on Saturday.
Police have issued a warrant to arrest Peter O’Ryan. Victoria Police
Police believe O’Ryan fled the property after the alleged attack and is understood to be armed, possibly with an axe or tomahawk.
Paul and Keith were airlifted to hospital in Melbourne with life-threatening injuries.
Janine was also hospitalised with critical injuries.
Two of the injured remain in intensive care and the trio have been described as “critical but stable”.
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Police believe the alleged assault may have unfolded following an argument.
Police are searching for O’Ryan around the Tyers area and the greater Latrobe Valley area. 9News
O’Ryan – who has no fixed address and is known to live in the bush – was last seen wearing a black and mustard jacket and carrying a black backpack, police said.
He is Caucasian and described as being of medium build with dark grey hair.
A warrant is now out for his arrest.
Police warn he may still be armed with an axe and handsaw and people are advised to call authorities if they spot him.
Findlay said O’Ryan frequents the Tyers, Morwell and Traralgon areas and is “well known” to police.
Victoria Police officers have swarmed the small Gippsland town as the manhunt for O’Ryan continues.
The search has expanded across the Latrobe Valley region and extra police resources have been deployed.
Police have searched the immediate vicinity of the home in Cowies Road but are yet to locate O’Ryan.
Police say O’Ryan may be armed and dangerous. 9News
One neighbour lives around the corner from the family home and said the Tyers community is a “tight-knit” one.
“It’s a little unsettling, it’s a quiet spot there,” he told 9News.
“The people I have a nodding acquaintance with.... nice, quiet couple. Deplorable really.”
Millikan said it was “unsettling” that O’Ryan has not yet been brought into custody.
Anyone with information on O’Ryan’s whereabouts or has any CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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