Recently freed inmate Peter O'Ryan allegedly attacks family with axe in Tyers
Peter O'Ryan, who was released from jail in July, is accused of attacking his brother and parents with an axe in Tyers, eastern Victoria, and remains missing.
A man identified as Peter O'Ryan, who had been released from custody in July after serving 171 days of an eight-month sentence, allegedly attacked his brother Paul and parents Keith and Janine with an axe at their Tyers home on Saturday. The family members were taken to Alfred Hospital, where the father remains in critical but stable condition and the mother and brother are listed as serious but stable. Police have launched a search across Tyers and the wider Latrobe Valley, reviewing CCTV and dash-cam recordings and deploying additional officers to patrol the area around the clock.
Detectives warn that O'Ryan is considered dangerous and may still be carrying the weapon, possibly hiding in nearby sheds or abandoned structures. Court records show O'Ryan previously faced more than 60 charges, including assaulting an emergency service worker and possessing a controlled weapon, and was jailed for 60 days in August 2023 on unrelated offences. Senior police officials describe the incident as one of the most severe cases of family violence they have encountered.
Why it matters
The case highlights the risks of releasing violent offenders and the challenges of locating them in rural communities.
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