Man accused of attacking family with axe recently released from jail

A man on the run in Victoria's east had only been released from prison months before allegedly attacking his brother and parents with an axe on Saturday.

Police allege Peter O'Ryan assaulted his brother Paul O'Ryan, father Keith O'Ryan and mother Janine O'Ryan with the weapon and fled their home in Tyers on foot.

Police have been patrolling the streets of Tyers and the Latrobe Valley searching for Mr O'Ryan, but he has not been seen since. 

His family remain in the Alfred Hospital where his father is in a critical but stable condition, while his brother and mother are in serious but stable conditions. 

Police told the ABC they could not confirm whether they had been able to interview the family yet. 

"We've received a lot of information … from the public and through that information we've opened up a number of new avenues of enquiry," Detective Inspector Mark Rossiter said. 

"We're canvassing all of the premises in the area with CCTV and people are being forthcoming with CCTV and dashcam which we're still working our way through." 

Community members living near the O'Ryan property told the ABC they believed Mr O'Ryan knew the bushy area well and were fearful he could be hiding in sheds nearby. 

"I can let the community members of Tyers know that we do have additional police in the area and that they'll be present 24/7," Detective Inspector Rossiter said.

"There's been no further intelligence to suggest that there is a further risk to the community. 

"However, I really want to reiterate that his propensity for violence makes him a dangerous individual and to definitely not approach."

Jailed earlier this year

Court documents show the 48-year-old was sentenced to eight months in prison in April this year.

He was released in July, having spent 171 days in pre-sentence detention. 

He pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including assaulting an emergency service worker, threatening to inflict serious injury and unlawful assault.

Other charges included using threatening words in a public place, failing to answer bail, loitering, stealing, intentionally destroying property, burglary and possessing a controlled weapon. 

There were more than 60 cases against Mr O'Ryan listed on the Magistrates' Court register.

In a separate matter, Mr O'Ryan was jailed for 60 days in August 2023 after pleading guilty to dealing with motor vehicle theft, proceeds of crime, criminal damage, possessing a controlled weapon, using methylamphetamine and breaking an intervention order. 

On Sunday, Latrobe Valley Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Findlay said it was some of the worst family violence offending he had seen.

"I've been working in family violence a long time. This is some of the most serious offending I've ever seen, without a doubt," he said.

"It is really extreme offending, and we don't see much worse than this."

Police believe he is still likely to be carrying the weapon and is likely hiding in abandoned buildings in the Latrobe Valley.