There’s been a crucial breakthrough in the murder mystery of a mother and her young daughter whose remains were found in two States and five years apart.

Detectives made the double murder link, after tip-offs and DNA testing.

Cassandra Dimitroff reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter Khandalyce were last seen in November of 2008 near Coober Pedy, South Australia.

In 2010, a cyclist stumbled across Karlie’s remains in the infamous Belangelo State Forest.

Earlier this year, the remains of her daughter found in a suitcase, discarded beside a highway in South Australia.

Two different calls to Crime Stoppers provided the breakthrough information allowing detectives to make the connection between the murdered mum and her little girl.

But the search for their killer, or killers, is still wide open.

Det Supt Des Bray, South Australia Police: “The people that are responsible for this crime are truly evil. They must be quickly caught and held to account.”

Detectives believe both victims died extremely violent deaths.

Officers in at least three States are working together to chase down multiple leads.

Det Supt Mick Willing, NSW Police Department Homicide Commander: “All I can say is that we’re pursuing a lot of lines of inquiry we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

Police are appealing for more information.

Locals say Karlie and her daughter deserve our help.

Vox 1: “She’s got a name. She’s someone’s child.”

Vox 2: “She can have a proper funeral and finally be put to rest.”

Cassandra Dimitroff, QUT News.