The quiet rural community of Ouyen in Victoria’s north-west has been rocked by a shocking murder investigation that has taken several dramatic turns in recent days. What began as a missing person case involving 65-year-old farmer Richard Wills has now become a full homicide inquiry after his body was discovered shot dead and buried in a shallow grave on his own property. Police have revealed new details suggesting that two or possibly three men were present at the scene, while a chilling theory has emerged about Wills’ final moments. Investigators have also publicly indicated that the suspect is likely someone known to the victim.

Richard Wills, a well-known local sheep and pig farmer, was last seen alive on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, when he left his home in Hughs Street, Ouyen, around 8 a.m. to work on his remote rural property along the Mallee Highway. He never returned. His wife reported him missing when he failed to come home that evening, prompting an immediate search by police and volunteers. The search intensified over the following days as concern grew for the popular grandfather who was known for his hard work and community involvement.

On Tuesday, April 7, police made the grim discovery. Wills’ body was found buried in a shallow grave on his farm. An autopsy confirmed he had been fatally shot. Forensic experts also uncovered disturbing evidence that his body had been dragged behind a vehicle across the property before being buried. His ute and mobile phone were located at the scene, adding to the mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Trewavas from Victoria Police’s Missing Persons Squad described the killing as “vicious” and confirmed it was being treated as homicide. “Sadly, Richard has clearly met with foul play,” he said during a press conference. “What is still unclear is exactly who was involved and why.” Trewavas emphasised that the crime scene was extensive and confronting, with multiple access points to the remote farm making it possible for outsiders to enter, though police strongly suspect the perpetrator or perpetrators were someone familiar with Wills or the property.

One of the most significant new developments is the indication that two or possibly three men were involved in the incident. Investigators have not released specific details about how they reached this conclusion, but forensic analysis of the scene, tyre tracks, drag marks, and other physical evidence points to more than one person participating in the events leading to Wills’ death and the subsequent burial. This revelation has shifted the investigation from a potential lone-wolf attack to a coordinated act, raising questions about motive and whether the killing was premeditated.

A chilling new theory has also surfaced regarding Wills’ final moments. Police are exploring the possibility that he was ambushed while working alone on the property. Given that he routinely left farm gates unlocked and was known to be approachable, investigators believe he may have been caught off guard by someone he knew or trusted. The theory suggests a confrontation escalated rapidly, resulting in Wills being shot before his body was dragged and hastily buried in an attempt to conceal the crime. The remote, dusty nature of the farm has made the investigation particularly challenging, with forensic teams working through a large and complex crime scene.

Another emerging line of inquiry links the murder to livestock theft in the region. Ouyen and surrounding areas have experienced a spate of organised sheep thefts, with some farmers reporting losses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wills himself had reportedly mentioned stolen sheep from his property in the period leading up to his death. Police have confirmed they are “mindful” of this theory and are investigating whether the killing was connected to a highly coordinated rural crime network — sometimes referred to locally as the “Merino Mafia” — that targets valuable livestock across Victoria and into South Australia. Such networks have been known to operate with ruthless efficiency, and investigators have not ruled out the possibility that Wills confronted thieves or became an inconvenient witness.

The identity of the suspect or suspects has not been publicly named, but police have strongly hinted that the perpetrator is someone known to Richard Wills. “We suspect that a person who knows Ric is responsible for this crime,” Trewavas stated. Detectives have been actively canvassing the local community in Ouyen and nearby Mildura, reviewing CCTV footage, and speaking with residents who may have information about unusual activity on or near the farm that day. The fact that the killing occurred on Easter Sunday — a day when many locals were with family — has only added to the sense of shock in the tight-knit rural community.

Wills’ widow and family have been left devastated. His wife has publicly pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, describing her husband as a hardworking, kind man who did not deserve such a violent end. The family has expressed frustration at the brutality of the crime and the uncertainty surrounding the motive. Community members in Ouyen, a town of just over 1,100 people, have described the murder as incomprehensible in such a peaceful farming region.

As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone who saw suspicious vehicles, individuals, or activity near Wills’ property on Easter Sunday or in the days prior to contact Crime Stoppers. They are particularly interested in speaking with people who may have knowledge of livestock theft in the area or any tensions involving the victim.

The case has drawn significant media attention across Australia, highlighting the growing problem of rural crime and the vulnerability of isolated farmers. The discovery of a shallow grave on the victim’s own land, combined with evidence of dragging and the possible involvement of multiple offenders, has created a disturbing picture of a calculated and callous act.

With no arrests yet made, the investigation remains active and broad. Police have stressed that they are keeping an open mind on all theories while focusing on building a clear picture of the final hours of Richard Wills’ life. The revelation of multiple offenders and the potential link to organised livestock theft has added urgency to the appeal for public assistance.

For the small town of Ouyen and the wider Victorian farming community, the murder of Richard Wills has shattered any illusion of rural invulnerability. A man who left home on Easter Sunday to tend his farm never returned, leaving behind a grieving family and a town searching for answers. As detectives continue to piece together the evidence, the hope remains that the truth about what happened that day — and who was responsible — will eventually come to light.