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Greg Lynn and the Zig Zag Road double fatality mystery
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This masthead is not suggesting there is sufficient evidence to make
Lynn a suspect in the fatalities, only that the case remains a mystery
to people who knew them.
Thirteen sources who either know or have investigated Lynn have spoken
to this masthead. They have pointed to coincidental geographic and
physical circumstances between the fatal fire, the campers' deaths and
the death of Greg Lynn's first wife, Lisa Lynn. The sources include
police, colleagues of the former pilot and friends of Lisa, some of
whom have been re-interviewed by police looking at her death.
Greg and Lisa Lynn.Credit: Jason South
Lisa, 34, was found dead in the front garden of the couple's Zig Zag
Road home on October 26, 1999, from a cocktail of prescription
medication and alcohol. The coronial inquest concluded "police
investigations failed to reveal any suspicious circumstances or the
involvement of any other person in the death of Lisa Lynn".
Her friends and family do not believe Lisa, who rarely drank alcohol,
took her own life.
The coroner delivered an open finding into her death and will be asked
to hold a second inquest after receiving new information. Police have
re-interviewed multiple people over Lisa's death, telling one witness
they were also looking at other cases that may involve Greg Lynn.
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On March 29, 2010, at 11.35pm, a passenger in a car saw the Viergever
property on fire on Zig Zag Road. When the Country Fire Authority
arrived, the front door was locked - they gained access from an "open
door on the eastern side of the house". Part of the roof had already
collapsed.
CFA officers found the couple's three pet dogs shot dead in the
laundry and the scene hopelessly compromised by the fire.
Coroner Paresa Spanos heard that on that day, the couple had carried
out their usual routine. Japp Viergever had gone to a local cafe in
the morning, visited his naturopath and attended a water aerobics
class.
Annie Viergever had a morning swim and an appointment with the
naturopath.
That night, a friend rang to speak with her. They could hear her
husband preparing dinner. It was 7.45pm.
The Viergevers were well known in the area and their sprawling house
had become a social hub for friends and neighbours.
"Lisa was friends with them," one of her friends said. "[The
Viergevers] would help Lisa around the house. Greg is someone who
never ever forgets." Another said: "He could hold a grudge for 100
years."
Coroner Spanos found: "The house was designed for entertaining and the
Viergevers entertained regularly and were generous hosts."
Spanos concluded: "I find that Mr Viergever shot their three dogs and
started the house fire, although not necessarily in that order, some
time before causing Mrs Viergever's death by gunshot injury to the
head. I find that he then intentionally took his own life by self-
inflicted gunshot injury to the head."
The investigation was conducted by a local detective with the
assistance of an arson chemist. It was not led by the homicide squad,
which looks at suspicious deaths.
Police forensics and arson and explosives squad members sift through
the remains of the house fire in Zig Zag Road in 2010.Credit: Jason
South
Investigating police did not establish why, if Japp Viergever had
planned to kill his wife and then himself, he would have bothered to
see his naturopath for a health check on the same day. Or why he would
choose to kill the three dogs rather than let them out of the house.
Immediately after the discovery of the bodies in the burnt-out house,
a senior police officer told the media: "Obviously, there are a number
of options we have to look at. At this stage, there's no indication
that there were other parties involved but we have to keep an open
mind.
"Regardless of whether it's a murder-suicide or an accident, it's a
tragedy; two people have lost their lives."
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Athol Guy made a statement at the time: "We have lost two family
members and two beautiful people … We have no clear idea yet what has
happened." Guy told friends he had been to the house recently and the
couple were in good spirits.
An insurance assessor who went to the scene said: "It didn't make any
sense to me at the time. Why did the fire start at the other end of
the house?"
Police reported the couple might have been under financial pressure
and Annie had minor health problems.
The deadly weapon was an unlicensed .22 Squibman Model 11A bolt action
repeating rifle. Japp was not a licensed firearm holder, was not a
hunter and no one who knew him had ever seen him with a rifle.
Arson experts concluded the fire had been started by pouring flammable
liquid on the floor of an office inside the house.
Russell Hill and Carol Clay died in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in
2020. Pictured are Hill's Toyota LandCruiser and the burnt-out site at
Bucks Camp.Credit: Victoria Police
In her report, the coroner found there had been no signs of conflict
between the couple.
"They had no children but treated their three Hungarian Vizsla dogs
like children, caring for them assiduously and allowing them the run
of the house," Spanos wrote.
Vizslas are called "Velcro dogs" because they love to stick with their
owners. Not naturally aggressive, they may bark excessively if they
sense danger.
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The police did not find a suicide note nor anyone who saw any change
in the couple's usual calm behaviour before the fire and their deaths.
Autopsies showed both died from single gun shot wounds to the head and
both were still breathing after the fire was started. Two of the dogs
had died from shots to the head and the third had been shot twice,
possibly before the fire started.
A friend of Lisa Lynn told this masthead: "I remember Lisa telling me
Greg argued and was frustrated by the neighbours in Zig Zag Road. She
was alarmed at his hatred for them. Lisa was embarrassed by his
outbursts. Lisa loved everyone."
This masthead does not know with which neighbours Lynn had clashed.
Friends of Lisa say that after he argued with neighbours about their
dogs, one was found strung up on a fence. "He had a hatred of barking
dogs. He had a real thing about noise," one said.
Another said Lisa had told her that when the Lynns lived in Evandale
near Launceston Airport, Greg had had a dispute with a neighbour and
shot their dog.
The Lynn house in Zig Zag Road was last sold in 2001. Greg Lynn left
the area to work in Qatar after the 2002 collapse of Ansett Airlines.
He returned to Australia to work for Jetstar in 2007.
Another friend said Lisa had played a message from Greg Lynn recorded
on the answering machine. "He threatened to kill her [Lisa] and there
was a woman in the background laughing. He was deadly calm."
Friends said the answering machine tape and Lisa's detailed diary were
missing.
Coroner Graeme Johnstone found that Lisa had been in an abusive
relationship with Greg Lynn, but concluded: "As no suicide note or
other definitive indications of the deceased's intentions were found,
it is unclear whether she intended to take her own life."
Police investigations failed to reveal any suspicious circumstances or
the involvement of any other person in the death of Lisa.
The jury in the Clay-Hill murder trial was told that after the
campers' deaths, Lynn had changed the colour of his 1997 Nissan Patrol
from blue-grey to tan. It was the second time the car had been painted
- it was originally white.
It was painted blue in 2016 after Lynn returned from a long trip to
central and northern Australia. Police remain interested in why the
car was repainted a different colour.
Inquiries in Victoria and interstate continue.
**If you or someone you know is in need of support, contact Lifeline
on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In the event of an
emergency, dial triple zero (000). Support is available from the
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service
at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).**
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