Man wanted over child’s remains
UPDATED: A 60-year-old man is wanted over the discovery of a child’s remains in the South Australian bush.
Police say locals in Wynarka, in the state’s southeast, spotted a man carrying a dark coloured suitcase between six and eight weeks ago.
They say the person was about 60 years of age, average height, lightly built and neatly dressed and clean cut.
They want him to make contact with detectives and have also called for anyone who saw him to come forward.
The remains are believed to be those of a child aged between two and seven. It’s also believed the child was killed some time before being placed in a suitcase which was left alongside the Karoonda Highway, East of Adelaide.
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Superintendent Des Bray says the suitcase was left in the area between four to six weeks ago.
It was found by a passing motorist on Tuesday but not reported to police until Wednesday.
The suitcase was left in plain sight about two metres off the road. The remains were found another two metres away behind a bush.
“We know for certain that somebody has come, found the suitcase, opened it to have a look what was in there and tipped out the contents,” Supt Bray said.
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“At that stage they’ve become aware that it was most likely human remains.
“We also believe the child was placed into the suitcase and brought to this location and deposited … but the child had been dead some time prior to that.”
The gender and identity of the child remain unknown.
A variety of items were also found in the suitcase but police have not disclosed what they are.
Officers and volunteers on Thursday conducted an extensive search of the bush around where the suitcase was found, extending the area to a kilometre in each direction.
Homes in nearby Wynarka were also doorknocked and vehicles travelling on the highway were stopped.
A post mortem examination is being conducted on the remains and could be completed today.
Police continue to check missing persons’ records across the country.
