Prisoner linked to murders

A MAN serving time in a NSW jail is one of several suspects in the the disappearance and murder of Alice Springs mother and daughter Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson and Khandalyce Kaira.

A day after police revealed the identities of the pair – a two-year old found in a suitcase near Wynkara in South Australia in July and her 20-yearold mother found in Belanglo State Forest in 2010 – investigators are looking into the movements of the man who is understood to be awaiting sentence on unrelated charges.

A police source confirmed the man was being looked into while officially police said they were keeping an open mind after it was revealed there were several suspects.

Police are also trying to find the car the pair were travelling in when they disappeared, with phone records and bank records all now being checked.

The pair were last seen when they were pulled over by police on the Stuart Highway near Coober Pedy in November 2008.

Ms Pearce-Stevenson’s remains were found in the forest in 2010 but her identity remained a mystery, while Khandalyce’s remains were found by the side of a highway near Adelaide in July.

A tip-off earlier this month suggested the body of the young girl was Khandalyce Pearce, with police then wondering where her mother was.

Police began comparing the girl’s DNA with other unknown remains, admitting the likelihood of a link with the Belanglo body – known as “Angel” because of writing on her T-shirt – was a long shot.

Police have received more than 30 calls in South Australia and dozens in other states.