{
  "id": 18415483,
  "title": "Police killer Dezi Freeman suspected of sexually exploiting two children",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/police-killer-dezi-freeman-suspected-of-sexually-exploiting-two",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T01:21:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-06/dezi-freeman-suspected-of-sexually-exploiting-children/107355290"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dezi Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, is suspected of sexually exploiting two children before fatally shooting two police officers during a shootout in August the previous year. Initially, authorities believed there was only one alleged victim, but now two law enforcement sources have told the ABC that Freeman is suspected of sexually abusing two children. Freeman evaded capture for seven months, during which he shot and wounded a third officer and attempted to open fire on another. He was eventually tracked to a rural property in Thologolong, more than 150 kilometers northeast of Porepunkah. On March 30, negotiators from Victoria Police's elite Special Operations Group engaged with Freeman for three hours in a converted shipping container. After being shot multiple times, Freeman died, ending Australia's largest-ever tactical police operation that involved over 500 personnel from various states and even New Zealand. Freeman, who was sought by a $1 million reward, had hundreds of files of child abuse material discovered on his devices following police raids. Inquiries have now determined that he likely traveled across the state border into NSW and received assistance from several individuals, including those sharing his sovereign citizen beliefs. Police are using arrest powers to seize electronic devices as part of their efforts to uncover any network that might have supported Freeman during his fugitive period. The inquests into the deaths of Freeman and the two officers have been scheduled to commence next year.",
  "summary": "Freeman, who was killed in a police stand-off in March, is now suspected of sexually exploiting two children, law enforcement sources tell the ABC.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}