After nearly two years of false leads and few clues, detectives have made a breakthrough in the case of missing elderly campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay - fuelling hope the enduring mystery may finally be solved.
In a bombshell development, police arrested a 55-year-old man on Tuesday over the secret lovers disappearance from the remote Victorian Alps in March 20, 2020.
The new twist comes after 20-month long police investigation, riddled with theories but, until recently, few leads about what happened to the pair in the hours before their torched campsite was discovered in the rugged Wonnangatta Valley.
At the time of their disappearance, Mr Hill and Ms Clay, both in their 70s, had travelled to the high country, more than 200km north of Melbourne, for a trip away - having spent more than two decades engaged in a secret affair.
Since they vanished, rumours have swirled about who may have been involved, including suggestions the couple may have been attacked by nefarious hunters, an 'oddball loner' called 'Button Man', or even a murder stalking the area.
A man has been arrested as part of the investigation into missing campers Carol Clay (left) and Russell Hill (right). The pair have not been heard from since March 20, 2020
Victoria Police are currently interviewing the man in custody and are yet to release further details.
As we wait for more information to come to light, here's a blow-by-blow account of how the 18-month mystery unfolded:
March 19, 2020
Mr Hill leaves his Drouin home, which he shares with his wife, in West Gippsland for a camping trip along the Dargo River.
Ms Clay tells friends she was going away few days but would return on March 29.
March 20, 2020
Mr Hill calls a friend via radio from a remote station in the Alps and says he is having radio transmission issues.
He says he has to go because it is getting dark, but promises to call back the next day. It is the last time the pair are heard from.
March 21, 2020
Mr Hill's Toyota 4WD is found abandoned with 'minor fire damage' next to a campsite at the Dry River Creek Track. Ms Clay's car is found at her Pakenham home after she was reported missing.
Mr Hill's white Toyota Landcruiser (pictured) was found with minor fire damage at their burnt campsite near Dry River Creek Track in the valley on March 21
March 30, 2020
Police launch a public appeal for help finding the pair and launch a search mission over the Victorian Alps, involving helicopters, the dog squad, SES volunteers, Parks Victoria and the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria.
The search is called of days later, on April 2, due to poor weather.
April 14, 2020
The search resumes again but is called off after two days when it does not yield results.
April 22, 2020
Police announce they no longer expect to find the pair alive and appeal to the public for information.
Mr Hill's family released a statement saying: 'It is devastating for our family that we don’t know what has happened to
