Police will investigate outstanding missing person's cases in Australia following alleged Coorong 'kidnap, attempted murder' case
Every outstanding missing person's case in Australia will be re-examined after a man was charged with the 'horrific' kidnap and attempted murder of two female backpackers, police have revealed.
It comes after pictures emerged of the bedroom of the man suspected of trying to kill the two girls in a remote South Australian national park near Salt Creek on Tuesday night.
The pictures come as the newly set up Taskforce Coorong updated the public on its investigation so far.
Acting Asst Commissioner Douglas Barr told media: "About 45,000 cases reported in Australia every year, we will be looking at all outstanding missing persons.
"Every outstanding case will be looked into. These two women have been subject to a horrifying incident."
The acting commissioner said that the 'terrifying incident' had shocked the community and he understood there were lots of questions that the police are unable to answer at this time.
"Speculation is rife in the community and the press, and rightly so.
"It's prudent, if nothing else, to invest the background of this offender. The man is before the courts with a serious offence and is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
"His name will remain suppressed at least until committal proceedings are finalised but I don't think its appropriate to detail this person's criminal history," Acting Asst Commissioner Barr added.
7 News revealed yesterday that the suspect was already in police sights as detectives had already raided his southern suburbs home several times in the past year seizing items of interest.
The accused man and his elderly father live in Morphett Vale. Late on Thursday afternoon his family reacted to the arrest.
“That's horrible, unexpected,” said the accused’s father.
His ex-wife said: “But he's never put hands on family. At least not on me or the kids you know.”
When residents saw last night's chilling report on 7 News they immediately knew the man police arrested was their neighbour.
“The age, description, the car, he goes away a lot, when they said it was Morphett Vale…my heart sank,” one woman said.
“It's just unbelievable really, shock, feeling of sickness… I did call the police cause I had concerns he was a neighbour and then it obviously unraveled and he was,” another woman said.
“We don't know if he was watching our kids, we've got no idea, that's what's scary about the whole thing.”
This week SA Police announced the formation of Task Force Coorong to investigate the Salt Creek incident and to find out whether the suspect has been involved in any other crimes.
Acting Superintendent Trent Cox said a dedicated team comprising of 12 investigators and intelligence officers had been created.
“It is difficult for police to detail some matters at this time given the arrest of a man, and the legal constraints that brings,” Superintendent Cox said.
“However, I would like to assure the public that at this time police are not seeking any other suspect in connection with this matter, but are following every avenue of inquiry.
Neighbours claim police have visited the home several times over the past year.
“There's a lot of cop activity at that house, coming and going, he ran up the alley-way one night, had the dogs chasing him, I've seen evidence being taken with computers and stuff,” a woman said.
They said the man is a loner, cleans his boat and keeps to himself.
“Seems like a normal bloke and then you see that on the news and it's pretty scary, knowing there's kids in the street, it's just out of the blue,” one young man said.
“He just looked creepy, something about him… He's been there about 12 months, I know his father, been over there for a BBQ, so it's just disbelief,” a man said.
“I don't like walking past him when he's out the front, he stares, he just doesn't say anything,” one of the women said.
One of the two women rescued from the terrifying alleged abduction ordeal on the isolated South Australian beach has been released from hospital.
The identities of the alleged victims cannot be published for legal reasons, however, 7 News can reveal one is a 23-year-old nurse from Brazil.
The other woman, also believed to be aged in her 20s is believed to be from Germany. She remains in hospital.
Both the girls were travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne with the man charged with kidnapping and attempted murder.
A group of about 12 locals managed to find and rescue the young women after fishermen saw one running from sand dunes, naked, bleeding and crying for help.
They were flown to the Flinders Medical Centre with serious injuries after being taken to the Salt Creek Road House.
One is believed to have been hit in the head with a hammer while another was run over with a vehicle.
Dramatic amateur video showed the moment police arrested the man now accused of inflicting the terrifying ordeal upon the two travellers.
The 59-year-old man has been refused bail and is scheduled to appear in court again in April.
His Facebook page shows him posing with a gun, and documents other trips to Salt Creek.
He operates several Facebook pages and has an online profile with a dating site seeking a new Asian wife, where he says he is “respectful to women and gets along with everyone, well almost.”
The rescue of the backpackers
Four fishermen raised the alarm after spotting one of the female backpackers running from the dunes, begging for help.
One of the fishermen said she did not appear to know what was happening.
“She ran straight to the car yelling,” Abdul-Karim Mohammed said.
“She opened the back door, jumped straight in and like, ‘get me out of here, get me out of here. He’s going to kill us all’.
“She had some scratches and that on the legs, looked like she’d been pulled around, dragged around and that.
“She had a bruised eye; maybe would have punched her or something.”
Fearing for the woman’s friend, the fishermen got an S.O.S to the Salt Creek Roadhouse.
Owner Adam Stewart took the call and rushed to help.
“The young guys were pretty scared so they wanted to get out of there, but we got them to go back in and, with that, they've seen the vehicle and sweet talked him into basically getting in there and rescuing the girl,” Mr Stewart said.
Rescuers then found the second backpacker, barely conscious and unable to speak.
Police would not reveal the backpacker’s injuries but 7 News understands at least one had been tied up.
At one stage they helped each other escape but it was short lived.
“Her and her friend split up, started running different directions,” Mr Mohammed said.
“I think it was to get him, you know what I mean, and she got away.
“Looks like he captured them again and unfortunately she was the one who sustained the serious injuries.”
Mr Stewart said the women “were in pretty bad shape”. The shock of the scene also affected the rescuers and police officers.
“We’re all pretty rattled, obviously. It’s a heavy event at any level,” Mr Stewart said.
“Even the police were rattled by it at a very high level.”
Crime scene investigation officers spent Wednesday and Thursday scouring the beach and searching the scene.
A campsite was found a kilometre away from where the first woman was found. A fishing knife and a hook were among the items left behind.
It is believed the pair met the man on Tuesday and they were travelling interstate.
Police are now investigating if the man could be involved in any other crimes.
There were a dozen people from the small Salt Creek community involved in the rescue.
Anyone with information that they believe may assist investigators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 – you can remain anonymous.
