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POLICE IN NEW South Wales, Australia, have made a major breakthrough in a pair of crimes that stunned the nation.
In July this year the remains of a two-year-old baby girl were discovered in a suitcase on the Karoonda Highway, near Wynarka and close to Adelaide. Until now the identity of those remains had been a mystery.
Now DNA evidence has provided certain proof that the baby girl was Khandalyce Kiara Pearce, the daughter of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson who disappeared sometime around late 2009. Her remains were discovered in Belanglo State Forest, near Sydney, 1,100 km from her daughter’s final resting place, in August 2010.
She had died violently.
While mother and daughter were finally identified through DNA testing, investigators have said that the initial breakthrough came through two calls to the police from the public.
One caller mentioned a missing person’s report filed by Karlie’s mother in 2009, while another supplied a photograph of a girl they thought could be linked to the bones in the suitcase, which then helped investigators track down government and medical records.
“You could say that initially we were looking for a needle in the haystack but we didn’t know what the haystack was,” said Detective Superintendent Des Bray, head of the South Australian Police major crime unit, as he described the investigation spanning the vast continent, two states and a territory as “challenging”.
This is one of the most shocking crimes imaginable; one that has not only devastated a family, but also had a terrible impact on the wider community.
Police are hoping to finally solve the two murders in one swoop, now that the link between the bodies has been identified.
Karlie Pearce-Stevenson was last seen by her family in her home town of Alice Springs, central Australia, in 2008. Aged 20, the single mother departed her home town with her two-year-old daughter Khandalyce and began travelling around the country.
As contact with her family became more sporadic her mother issued a missing person’s notice for her daughter in 2009. This was cancelled in September of that year when it became known that Karlie was well and did not wish to be in contact with her family. Karlie’s mother has since died.
The last known photo of Karlie dates from 2008. The last official sighting of mother and daughter was in November 2008 when she and Khandalyce were seen driving together on Stuart Highway, Northern Territory.
Her remains initially unidentified when discovered in 2010, Karlie was initially dubbed ‘Angel’ by investigating detectives in reference to a t-shirt with a distinct angelic motif across the front found at the scene.
Her remains were discovered within the killing radius of backpacker serial killer Ivan Milat – however he can not be responsible as he was jailed prior to Karlie’s murder.
New South Wales homicide commander Mick Willing said that Karlie’s family, even after all this time, still believed that she and her daughter were alive and well.
The family are not being treated as suspects in the investigation.
Police from four different jurisdictions – New South Wales, South Australia, Northern Territory, and Australian Federal Police – are now working to try and establish what Karlie’s life and movements were like between 2008 and 2009.
“It is with everyone’s assistance we have reached this very important breakthrough, but it is important to note the identification is only the beginning of the investigation,” said Bray.
Those responsible for these horrific crimes remain amongst us in the community, and they must quickly be caught and held to account for their actions.
“We are appealing for assistance from the community to help us identify their friends and associates as they travelled throughout Australia, as well as landlords, motels, caravan parks or campsites where they stayed during this time,” said Willing.
Anyone who owns or operates these businesses is urged to check their records and help us piece this puzzle together.
“We have numerous lines of inquiry to follow, and while we will do our best to keep the community informed, we need to first establish fact from fiction and ensure we avoid speculation, which could damage our investigations,” he added.
With AFP
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How much of these monies have been sourced by the Catholic church? Surely an old convent or two should be sold to somewhat make amends. Shatter has requested such funding, yet it appears not a penny has been shared. Why is the tax-payer paying for the sins of the Catholic church?
Because Bertie and his cronies were such good Catholics.
Granted Joseph.
But as my mother says
The rest of the feckers in Leinster house over the year had a mouth on them as well and they said feck all about this travesty.
Imagine some of today’s fine leaders used to drive by slave camps everyday on their way into the Dail and think nothing wrong of it.
The Magdelane Laundry closed in 1996.
The “last” Magdelane Laundry closed in 1996.
Anyway.
As recent events have illustrated, Ireland’s fine leaders think nothing of abusing/enslaving their people in one way or another.
Money will never replace what the establishment took from them.
Pittance
Paddy power got most of my mums compo already.
I am not sure if there is anything I hate more than the catholic church for what it did to those children. Not only is what happened devastating, but those who covered it up and facilitated its continuance for so long are as bad as the abusers themselves. Those that then choose to recognise and support such an institution today really make me wonder what is wrong with them. Why would/could anybody support an organisation that did this to innocent children!? What is wrong with people? You people really do make me feel ill.
I concur with everything you say John Q . The disconcerting thing is that a catholic task force of laypeople and clergy has been set up to
Spread disinformation and lies about the extent of the abuse. Their mantra is to Deny ! Deny ! Deny ! At all costs any accusations against the church irrespective of the truth or source of the information. On the flip side there seems to be other groups of clergy mainly in the states who have set up support groups for clergy whistle blowers. http://www.catholicwhistleblowers.com
Didn’t these women have families too?
We’re all angry here at the state paying for church sins which is fair enough but the irish press also know as the journal gives the Church sinners a constant platform to spout their moral shite through their two spin offs, the immigrant council of ireland and the migrant council who in turn produced the mens development network. So for every one story such as the horrors that these woman suffered the irish press will act as an online broadsheet to spread the good shepherds words
Actually, you are full of shite!
The RCC should be made to pay? Look at the wealth that it has, The RCC can afford to pay..
I’m sickened and apaulled by what went on and the cover up of these poor children and Adults.
@Trevor Beacom, What are you on about?! The immigrant council of ireland and The migrant council have nothing to do with the good sheperd magdeline laundry..?
You are entitled to your opinion about those two councils but they serve a genuine and legitimate purpose; just because you disagree with that purpose why must you spread your shite talk in unrelated articles?
And your name is?
My name is irrelevant. Why do you ask, will knowing my name help you to explain your previous comment?
You know only too well the links between the groups. Pretending that they dont exist is silly. Every eci and mci article which appear here I will publish proof of the links
Still no one is asking why were the London Women’s Group Given €250,000 at the Commissioning of the Quirke Report!
Was this to seek endorsement of the Macalese Report and ensure Compliance with the Quirke findings on Redress?
Shatter certainly compromised this situation by doing this!
My mother spent a couple of years in the Magdalene Laundry in Limerick as well as her entire childhood in the Irish state workhouses and they are telling her that they cannot find her records.
Wait for the vaccine test programmes that were run in these places to come into the spotlight. Humam medical trails without informed consent. That is going to cost.
Sadly the Commission into Child Abuse was stopped from investigating this by the Welcome Trust now part of GSK. There will be no report or Compensation on this.
The Government commissioned a Report that washed the Religious Whiter than a Magdalene Laundry Sheet!
They got the Report they paid for absolving the Nuns and phasing the burden squarely on the State and Tax Payer AGAIN!
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