Porepunkah residents believe suspected cop killer Dezi Freeman may be using old gold mining tunnels and caves in Victoria’s remote alpine wilderness to stay one step ahead of police, as the massive manhunt to capture him stretches into its third day.

Mark Bartolic, a long-time local, says the 56-year-old knows the terrain around Mount Buffalo exceptionally well and could be exploiting its hidden bush networks to avoid detection.

“There are a lot of caves here and a lot of dugouts that have been (left) from gold mining,” Mr Bartolic told the Daily Mail .

“I know caves. People know caves. I’m not even sure the police have looked under the tunnel that goes straight under Porepunkah here.”

Mr Freeman, an experienced bushman, fled into the wilderness after allegedly gunning down two polic

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