Alleged murderer had relationship with suspect in Karlie Pearce-Stevenson's identity fraud
New details have revealed murder victim Karlie Pearce-Stevenson may have been romantically involved with the man who allegedly killed her.
Daniel James Holdom, 41, appeared via video link at Maitland Local Court on Thursday after he was arrested and charged on Wednesday night at Cessnock with the murder of Karlie, whose remains were found in Belanglo State Forest in August 2010.
Investigators suspect Karlie and Holdom, were romantically involved, Fairfax Media reports.
"We will allege that Karlie was murdered at some time between 14 and 15 December 2008," Detective Superintendent Mick Willing told reporters in Sydney earlier today.
"She sustained certain injuries to her body but I cannot go any further into those injuries as the investigations are ongoing.
Inquires are continuing into the murder of her two-year-old daughter Khandalyce Pearce, whose remains were found in July dumped on the side of a highway more than 1000km away in South Australia.
"We believe that Khandalyce was murdered at some point after Karlie but we are trying to establish the exact time."
The 41-year-old’s arrest follows revelations Karlie's phone, bank account, Centrelink and family payment had been accessed for years after her death, with almost $100,000 either spent or withdrawn from her bank account between November 2008 and March 2012.
Fairfax Media have reported that Holdom was in a one time relationship with a woman believed to have stolen Karlie's identity after her death.
The same woman, is believed to be the person who attended a credit union in June 2010 and convinced staff she was Karlie after showing her identity documents.
Holdom's relationship with the woman reportedly came to an end after his 4WD rolled in South Australia, killing two of her young children.
Fairfax said police are believed to have determined that Holdom's mobile phone was in the forest at the same time Karlie was allegedly killed.
Journalist Andrew McGarry told the ABC that the horrific case was eerily similar to the Snowtown murders, which he extensively covered and has written a book about.
“That murder gang, for want of a better term, grabbed people, assaulted them and tortured them in some cases, and recorded messages from them, to their families, which they used as a way to keep people off the scent of what had happened to them,” he said.
Snowtown, north of Adelaide, is remembered for the eight dismembered bodies that were found in six barrels hidden in a disused bank vault.
Police have revealed that Karlie's phone was used until mid-2011. Offenders accessed the message bank and even sent some replies in text messages telling Karlie’s family she was alive and well.
Some text messages were also sent asking for money to the bank account and a woman impersonated Ms Pearce-Stevenson had several brief conversations with family members.
“In Snowtown, that happened in a number of cases where families were convinced by the phone messages, which gave them the impression that they were still around or still safe,” Mr McGarry told the ABC.
"The use of financial details, the use of accounts, having a group of people involved, so that some people may have been involved in the murder and others may have been involved in impersonating victims to Centrelink and other authorities.”
NSW Police State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad established Strike Force Malaya and South Australia Police’s Major Crime Investigation Branch established Task Force Malee to investigate the murders of Karlie and her daughter.
The man in custody has not been charged over the murder of two-year-old Khandalyce.
It is not known if Holdom acted alone, or if there were more killers involved in the brutal case.
Holdom, who did not apply for bail and was also refused bail, will next appear in Sydney's Central Local Court on November 12.
Earlier reports
On Wednesday, the family of Karlie and Khandalyce shared a heartbreaking tribute to the young mother and daughter.
"The sun doesn’t shine as bright as it did but the night is now lit with a few more stars," the tribute reads.
"No more looking to see if that girl is you," it continues. "No more waiting to hear."
“Our hearts have a thousand cuts and we will remain your strength… give Khandles a hug for us,” it read.
The message was shared by Karlie’s step-father and brother.
A warning message was also shared to Facebook, labeling the culprits as ‘cowards’ while asking for anyone who knows what happened to the pair to come forward.
"[Detectives] set up to investigate the murders of Khandalyce Pearce and her mother Karlie, have so far tracked transactions across South Australia, New South Wales, Northern Territory and the ACT," Detective Superintendent Des Bray from Major Crime Investigation Branch, South Australia Police, told media at a press conference.
"Almost $100,000 was spent or withdrawn from the account since November 2008 until March 2012. The account was closed earlier this year due to inactivity."
"Money was deposited through Centrelink payments, previous wages and other unknown sources."
The murdered mother was impersonated on numerous occasions including a Centrelink appointment on December 15, 2010 where someone falsely said she was Karlie and produced identity documents for her and Khandalyce.
Centrelink payments were made until 2011.
"Also, disturbingly, it appears that in June 2010 a woman in a wheelchair impersonating Ms Pearce-Stevenson attended Australian Central Credit Union at Elizabeth to update banking records," Det Supt Bray said. "Detectives are investigating if it was the same woman on both occasions."
"However, police know that a man and at least two women have been responsible for the financial transactions and have lived at, or been associated with, homes in Davoren Park, Hillbank, Holden Hill (in South Australia) and Charnwood, Canberra."
Karlie's bank account was accessed in at least four different states - NT, SA, ACT and NSW - Centrelink, family allowances and other money was taken from the account.
Police said there are at least two female offenders, and one male and they are encouraging all those people to come forward.
Police are now investigating transactions including:
- Purchase from KFC, Port Augusta on November, 3, 2008
- Purchase from McDonalds, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, on November 6, 2008
- EFTPOS Purchase at Coles, Alice Springs, on November 9, 2008
- ATM withdrawal at Kent Town, SA, on November 14, 2008
- Rabbit Photo/Strandbag, Mount Gambier, SA, on November 17, 2008
- ATM withdrawal, Kippax Fair, Canberra, on November 24, 2008
- Transaction at Charnwood, Canberra on December 16, 2008
- Transaction at Deakin, Canberra, on December 19, 2008
- Transaction at BP OTR, Broadview, on December 22, 2008
- Transaction at Coober Pedy, SA, on January 6, 2009
- EFTPOS purchase from Mobil, Alice Springs, on January 7, 2009
- ATM withdrawal at Broadview on January 10, 2009.
