Haunting final moments of young father before he was shot and killed – as cops reveal disturbing link to ‘contract crew’ crime spree

Chilling footage captured the final moments of a young father who was shot and killed, with his death believed to be linked to a Victorian drug trafficking syndicate.

Rich ‘Dylan’ Choup, 32, was reported missing in Sydney in July 2024, before his body was found in bushland at Lucas Heights in August.

Police have been looking for those responsible and believe he may have been killed by a ‘contract crew’ responsible for two other violent incidents in the same week.

The other two incidents include a man who was buried alive in an attempted murder, and a man who had his ear severed during a kidnapping.

Detectives released on Monday CCTV footage linked to each of the incidents, including footage showing Mr Choup in an altercation days before he disappeared.

Mr Choup was reported missing on July 29 last year and was last seen involved in a dispute in Cabramatta, south-west Sydney, on July 25.

The young father had told friends he had a meeting and asked them to wait close by.

CCTV showed Mr Choup meeting with a man on Railway Parade, who ordered him towards a car after slapping him at about 6.25pm.

Rich ‘Dylan’ Choup, 32, was reported missing in Sydney in July 2024 before his body was found in bushland at Lucas Heights in August

Rich ‘Dylan’ Choup (left) and an unidentified man who slapped him before he disappeared

One of the men police want to speak with in relation to a series of crimes

Both men were seen walking towards a grey Audi SQ2 before Mr Choup was reported missing four days later.

On August 31, police were called to bushland off Heathcote Road in Lucas Heights after trail bike riders stumbled upon human remains which were later identified to be those of Mr Choup.

A post-mortem discovered he had been fatally shot and the top of his right ear had been severed.

Police also released footage of a white Lexus and white Audi RS3 from when Mr Choup was last seen.

Two men in the CCTV, seen allegedly moving the vehicles before and after Mr Choup’s disappearance, are of interest to police.

The other two incidents linked to the ‘contract crew’ occurred days before the altercation between Mr Choup and the unidentified man at Cabramatta.

Police said a 31-year-old man was kidnapped and tortured at Canley Vale, in south-west Sydney, before he was released the same day, on July 19.

Part of his right ear was severed, however the man did not make a report to police.

Police have released vision of several men and cars of interest

CCTV showed a 23-year-old man walking into a Queensland petrol station covered in dirt and with a bullet wound to his head 

Officers conducted a search of a property where they believe the man had been held and discovered a box cutter at the premises.

Police released CCTV of a dark-coloured Audi SQ2 and a white Volkswagen Golf at the intersection of Freeman Avenue and Sackville Street, around the time of the incident.

Just two days later, a 23-year-old man walked into a Queensland petrol station covered in dirt and with a bullet wound to his head.

He collapsed at the scene in Tamborine Street, Jimboomba, and was taken to hospital, where it was found he was shot through the eye and had a bullet in his brain.

Queensland and NSW police think the man was shot and buried before he crawled out of a shallow grave to find help.

CCTV footage showed a white Hyundai Getz at a roadhouse in Nambucca on the NSW Mid North Coast at about 5:30am on the day before the attempted murder.

Four men were also seen on CCTV.

One was believed to be the victim, which suggested he was picked up in NSW and driven to Queensland before being shot and buried.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.