Hunt continues for man who allegedly attacked parents and brother with axe in Tyers
Posted Mon 7 Sep 2026 at 10:57amMon 7 Sep 2026 at 10:57amMon 7 Sep 2026 at 10:57am
In short:
A search is continuing for a man who allegedly attacked his family with an axe in Victoria’s east.
Police do not think Peter O’Ryan poses a threat to public safety.
What’s next?
Authorities urge the community to stay vigilant and call police if they see the wanted man.
Police are urging people to remain vigilant and report any sightings of a man who allegedly attacked his parents and brother with an axe in Victoria’s east.
On Saturday, Peter O’Ryan, 48, allegedly set upon his elderly mother and father, and brother with an axe at a home in Tyers, about two hours east of Melbourne.
Police are continuing their investigation at the Cowies Road home and have issued a warrant for his arrest.
The man’s 76-year-old father and 47-year-old brother were yesterday flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne with life-threatening injuries, while his 74-year-old mother was also transported to hospital with critical injuries.
All of the victims are in stable condition.
Detective Inspector Mark Rossiter said extra police resources had been called to the area to continue the manhunt across the Latrobe Valley.
“We searched the areas in the immediate vicinity of the residential premises with no luck,” Mr Rossiter said.
“Our intelligence suggests that O’Ryan isn’t a bushman or a bush person, and whilst it’s likely that he headed into that area, he’s more known to frequent towns like Morwell and staying in abandoned houses and the like,” he said.
Authorities said Mr O’Ryan was a Tyers local and “very well known to police”.
He said police had not found the assault weapon, and believed Mr O’Ryan could be armed.
Community remains vigilant
Police said there was nothing to suggest Mr O’Ryan posed a threat to the community.
“Whilst we urge people to be vigilant … there has been no intelligence to suggest that Peter O’Ryan would harm anybody else,” Mr Rossiter said.
“This was an attack on people known to him, family members … early investigations have revealed that it probably resulted after an argument.
“Our intelligence isn’t suggesting that there are any further threats to the community.”
Mr O’Ryan was last seen wearing a mustard coloured jacket and carrying a black backpack.
Police are asking anyone who has CCTV or dash camera footage around the Tyers area to contact Crime Stoppers.