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Remains of 'murdered' child found beside South Australian highway Remains of 'murdered' child in South Australia were put in suitcase, police say
(about 1 hour later)
South Australia police say there is no doubt that a child whose remains were found on the side of a freeway met with foul play. Skeletal remains found in scrub near a highway in South Australia are believed to be those of a child aged between two and seven, police have said.
Detective Superintendent Des Bray from the major crime investigation section offered no other possible explanation for what had happened. It is thought the child was killed some time before being placed in a suitcase that was left in scrub alongside the Karoonda highway, east of Adelaide.
“We have the skeletal remains of a young child, someone who I would suggest has clearly been murdered,” he said. Superintendent Des Bray said the suitcase was left in the area between four to six weeks ago.
A passing motorist discovered the child’s bones in bushes besides the Karoonda Highway, east of Adelaide, about 11am on Wednesday. Police said earlier there was no doubt the child whose remains were found on the side of a freeway met with foul play.
“We have the skeletal remains of a young child, someone who I would suggest has clearly been murdered,” Bray said.
A passing motorist discovered the child’s bones in bushes besides the Karoonda highway about 11am on Wednesday.
The bones have been taken to Adelaide for forensic testing.The bones have been taken to Adelaide for forensic testing.
Bray said police hoped to know more about how the child died by Thursday afternoon at the earliest. Bray said police hoped to know more about how the child died soon.
He said it was too early to speculate on the dead child’s age or sex, or how long ago the remains were dumped there. But he said it was obvious the remains were that of a small child. It is believed a suitcase and children’s clothes were found nearby. “Young children don’t disappear without people noticing,” Bray said. “We’d encourage people to think about friends, acquaintances, people who live near them ... and perhaps on reflection might be concerned that a child might not be around who was there previously.”
“Young children don’t disappear without people noticing,” Bray told reporters. “We’d encourage people to think about friends, acquaintances, people who live near them ... and perhaps on reflection might be concerned that a child might not be around who was there previously.” Police combed missing persons records and canvassed people living near the scene, which is about 2km west of Wynarka in the Murray Mallee region.
Police and forensic experts were expected to return to the scene on Thursday as police combed missing persons records and canvassed people living near the scene, which is about 2km west of Wynarka in the Murray Mallee region.