The body of suspected Lake Cargelligo murderer Julian Ingram has been found in a ‘very decomposed state’.

Ingram, 37, fled the Lake Cargelligo region, in central west NSW, on January 22 after allegedly shooting his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn, 25, her friend John Harris, 32, and her aunt Nerida Quinn, 50.

A man’s body was found by park rangers doing feral animal eradication at Round Hill Nature Reserve, northwest of Lake Cargelligo, about 3.30pm on Monday.

It is believed to be the remains of Ingram.

It’s understood the body was found next to a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM07GZ – the ute Ingram fled in – and a firearm.

Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland, Western Region Commander, told a press conference the body ‘appeared to have been there for some time’.

He added the clothing on the body indicated it was Ingram and his driver’s licence was found inside the ute.

‘It’s a relief for (officers) to find this body, yet to be confirmed as Julian Ingram, but the main thing is it brings a close to this investigation,’ Commissioner Holland said.

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A body – believed to be that of Lake Cargelligo murderer Julian Ingram (above) – was found on Monday afternoon

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Ingram shot his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn (above), aged 25

‘It brings closure to the people of Lake Cargelligo … they can relax.

‘The investigation would have continued until we found Mr Ingram. I’ve said previously that we had all intentions of bringing him before a court.

‘If he’s taken the easy way out and committed suicide, that’s his choice.’

Commissioner Holland described the massive search for Ingram as ‘draining on the western region’.

‘But they’ve done an outstanding job to get to this point,’ he said of officers’ work.

Ms Quinn and Mr Harris were killed when bullets were fired into a dark hatchback on Lake Cargelligo’s Bokhara St about 4.20pm on January 22.

Soon after, her 50-year-old aunt was shot dead at a home on Walker St, a two-minute drive away.

Kaleb Macqueen, 19, was also shot at the home but survived with serious injuries.

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Ms Quinn’s friend John Harris (above) was shot alongside her

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Ms Quinn’s 50-year-old aunt, Nerida Quinn (above), was shot dead at a home on Walker St

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EXCLUSIVE

 A judge was told DV thug didn’t need to face court – before he killed three people and unborn baby

Officers searched Mount Hope in the days after the shootings following reported sights of Ingram in the area.

A $250,000 reward was announced in March for information that led to his arrest.

Ingram – also known as Pierpoint-Ingram – had already been hit with six apprehended violence orders to protect five people, including Ms Quinn, and had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman in Griffith.

He was granted bail by local police following his arrest in November because his charges did not meet the threshold for ‘serious’ DV offences.

Transcripts from his court appearance in December, obtained by the Daily Mail, show his bail was continued by Magistrate Michael Maher without any mention of his criminal history, or any potential danger to Ms Quinn.

Ingram was able to leave the court and continue complying with his bail conditions, which involved reporting daily to Lake Cargelligo police.

He was not allowed to follow, assault, threaten, stalk, or harass Ms Quinn or anyone she had a relationship with.

He was also banned from destroying her property or harming her animals, or being in the company of certain people 12 hours after consuming alcohol or taking illicit drugs.

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