Police are investigating whether the Jetstar pilot arrested over the mysterious disappearance of two elderly campers repainted his 4WD a different colour soon after they vanished.
Gregory Lynn, 55, was apprehended by heavily armed police in a dramatic operation on Monday, which saw special operations officers swoop in on two helicopters to make the arrest at a remote campsite in Victoria and seize his vehicle.
Detectives recently made a public appeal for a blue late 90s Nissan Patrol which had been captured on CCTV in the area at the time Russell Hill, 74, and Ms Carol Clay, 73, are believed to have been murdered during a secret camping trip in Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020.
The pilot's Nissan Patrol, which has been seized, is the same make and model as the one police were looking for, and has the same roof rack - but is beige, not blue.
With Mr Lynn reportedly under the eye of police for many months, they are now investigating whether he repainted the car shortly after the couple disappeared.
Police teams executing search warrants also swarmed Lynn's Caroline Springs home on the outskirts of Melbourne's west, leaving neighbours on the quiet suburban street stunned.
The Qantas subsidiary has now stood down the senior pilot, although no charges have been laid as of late Tuesday night.
Keen camper and dad Gregory Lynn, 55, (pictured) was apprehended by heavily armed police in a dramatic operation on Monday, which saw special operations officers swoop in on a helicopter to make the arrest
The mid-1990s model Nissan Patrol (pictured) is now central to the investigation because painstaking video analysis has managed to account for every car exiting the remote valley that weekend - except the blue 4WD
The secret lovers snuck off for a trip to Victoria's remote Wonnangatta Valley on March 20, 2020 and have never been heard from since.
Investigators were baffled by the lack of solid leads in the case until painstaking video analysis uncovered a mysterious off-road vehicle towing a trailer, near the remote campsite.
Detectives said the blue 4WD was the only vehicle unaccounted for on the night they vanished.
But when SOG teams in tactical gear rushed in to arrest Mr Lynn in remote bushland at Licola, north of Sale, about 100km south of where the couple vanished, they found a 4WD matching what they were looking for - but coloured beige.
It has now been taken back to the Forensic Services Centre at Macleod in Melbourne's north east and will be examined for evidence.
The off-roader (pictured) which police are investigating whether was painted beige, was taken by police on Monday at a remote campsite in East Gippsland where heavily armed officers swooped on the suspect, north of Sale
Russell Hill (pictured, left) and Carol Clay (right) are believed to have been murdered during a camping trip
The 4WD (pictured in a police sketch) has roof racks, side steps, off-road tyres and a bulbar. The box trailer is 'fairly standard' but has been fitted with 'off-road wheels'
Mr Lynn's social media profile shows a wholesome family man with an enthusiasm for camping and a love of nature.
A shocked neighbour who witnessed swarms of investigators descend on the street recalled meeting the man now at the centre of one Australia's biggest mystery cases.
'I was washing my car… I saw the guy coming… he just walked past and I said "hi",' the resident told the Herald Sun.
'He said "welcome to the street"… we just had a chat and we spoke about an incident where some kids got attacked around here a few weeks ago.
'I said "we will have a beer sometime", and that was it.'
A 55-year-old man suspected of involvement in the disappearance of the missing couple was arrested on Monday
Mr Lynn told him he worked for Jetstar, but the airline has now 'removed him from duty as a result of their arrest'.
The carrier told Daily Mail Australia the airline 'has been advised by Victoria Police that one of its employees is under investigation for a serious
