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Police Confirm Freeman’s Son Not Arrested, Despite Viral False Claims
Victoria Police have dismissed viral claims that the son of police killer Dezi Freeman has been arrested for helping his father evade authorities. The misinformation, which has spread widely through Vietnamese-managed Facebook pages, falsely alleges that 20-year-old Koah Freeman was part of a support network that aided his father during his seven-month period as a fugitive.
Dezi Freeman was shot dead by police on March 30, 2026, at a rural property, ending an extensive manhunt that began after he killed officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart in Porepunkah when they attempted to serve a warrant.
While authorities confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with the investigation into Freeman’s movements, police sources have explicitly stated that neither person is related to the fugitive. ABC News reported on April 4 that both individuals were associates, not family members.
The false claims appear to be part of a coordinated misinformation campaign spread across multiple Vietnamese-run Facebook pages. One post features purported images of Koah Freeman’s arrest alongside allegations that he was involved in “a secret network” supporting his fugitive father.
“The internet ERUPTS as Dezi Freeman’s son — the very man who publicly condemned his father’s crimes and was seen moments ago collapsing in tears, whispering ‘Still my father’ after Dezi was gunned down by police — has now been abruptly ARRESTED on the spot,” reads one caption.
AAP FactCheck analysis reveals that many images accompanying these claims show clear signs of artificial intelligence manipulation. In one example, police uniforms display inconsistencies, including a missing reflective stripe on an officer’s vest. Another image purporting to show Koah Freeman’s mugshot contains jumbled and inconsistent height markings on the measurement wall behind him.
Several images used in these posts appear to be AI-generated modifications of existing media. One seems to be derived from unrelated footage of Koah Freeman wearing a distinctive hoodie and cap, originally published by the Daily Mail in September 2025.
A separate false post claims that Koah Freeman provided police with “secret files” detailing his father’s movements and tactics during his time as a fugitive. This post recycles images from unrelated news stories, including a still from the September 2025 Daily Mail video, a frame from a 2021 Seven News report about Dezi Freeman’s arrest outside Myrtleford Magistrates Court, and an image from a 2025 News.com.au story about the manhunt.
“‘He handed it all over…’ — Dezi Freeman’s son makes shocking move hours after fatal shooting, secret files spark nationwide frenzy,” reads the misleading caption. AAP FactCheck found no credible reports supporting the existence of such files.
The high-profile nature of the Freeman case appears to have made it a target for misinformation. The lengthy manhunt for Dezi Freeman, following the killing of two police officers, generated significant public interest across Australia. This heightened attention likely contributes to the rapid spread of sensationalized false claims on social media.
This isn’t the first instance of AI-generated misinformation surrounding the Freeman case. AAP FactCheck has previously debunked similar claims involving artificially created images related to the investigation.
Social media users are advised to verify information through official police statements and credible news sources before sharing potentially false content related to ongoing investigations.
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16 Comments
Interesting case. Seems like there was some misinformation spreading about this incident, which is concerning. I wonder what the motivations were behind the false claims about the son’s involvement.
Yes, it’s troubling to see coordinated disinformation campaigns like this. Glad the police were able to confirm the facts and dispel the false claims.
The details around this case seem murky, with conflicting reports and claims. I’m glad the police were able to confirm the facts and dispel the false information.
Yes, it’s important to have authoritative sources provide the accurate information, especially when dealing with such sensitive matters.
It’s concerning to see misinformation spreading about a high-profile criminal case. I’m glad the police are on top of it and working to correct the false claims.
Absolutely, transparency and accuracy are crucial when dealing with sensitive investigations like this. Good to see the authorities taking action.
It’s concerning to see foreign operatives trying to influence a domestic criminal case through disinformation. I hope the authorities are able to identify the source and hold those responsible accountable.
Absolutely, foreign interference in domestic affairs is a serious issue. Good that the police are on top of this and correcting the record.
This is a disturbing situation, with foreign actors seemingly trying to sow confusion and undermine public trust. I hope the investigation can get to the bottom of this.
Agreed, disinformation campaigns like this can be very damaging. Kudos to the authorities for taking it seriously and setting the record straight.
This is a complex and troubling situation. I appreciate the authorities’ efforts to investigate the source of the disinformation and provide the facts to the public.
Yes, it’s important that the truth comes out, especially when there are attempts to spread false information and undermine trust in the system.
Fascinating to see how foreign operatives are trying to influence a domestic criminal case through disinformation. I’m glad the police are on top of it and working to correct the record.
Agreed, this type of foreign interference is very concerning. Kudos to the authorities for taking it seriously and providing the accurate information.
This is a complex case with a lot of moving parts. I appreciate the authorities taking the time to investigate the source of the misinformation and set the record straight.
Agreed, transparency around these types of investigations is important. Spreading false information can really undermine public trust.