Did A Serial Killer Murder Karlie Pearce-Stevenson And Daughter Khandalyce?

Police investigating the double murder of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson and Khandalyce are looking into the possibility that the person behind their murders may have killed before.

After the identity of the little girl in the suitcase was revealed earlier this week, and Australia learned that her mother was also an unidentified murder victim. Thanks to DNA testing, police in South Australia and New South Wales were able to uncover that the girl in the suitcase was young Khandalyce Pearce, and that a victim known as ‘Angel’ was her mother Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson.

There is still much to learn about the double murder, with police trying to piece together what happened to the two victims and how they ended up being found five years and 1200km apart. As they delve further into the case however, they cannot ignore the signs pointing to the possibility that a serial killer murdered the two.

“There’s no escaping the fact there are some traits of these victims which mean it could be the work of a serial killer,” one police office said.

In particular he was referring to the extremely violent nature of their deaths, and the dumping of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson’s body in Belanglo State Forest. As most Australians will be aware, the forest has long been considered a dumping ground for murder victims.

Senior officers cannot discount any evidence in the case, which they have described as complex and fast moving. As such they are trying to keep an open mind, and give even standing to all the theories in front of them.

Over the weekend it was reported to the media that police were looking into the movements of a convicted paedophile in relation to the deaths. Although not the only suspect, police believe that he had an association with Ms Pearce-Stevenson before she went missing. The man is currently in jail, having been convicted in 2013 after Karlie’s body had already been found, and possibly after her daughter was dead as well.

Police have been in contact with him, and he has been moved from minimum security to maximum security.

There are no easy answers for police officers in the case of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson and Khandalyce Pearce. Indeed, it is hard for them to even say with certainty who died first due to the damage to the body, and the confusing nature of the dumping grounds. The thought that a serial killer might be responsible, and that other victims may yet come to light is a nightmarish one for Australians, but police remain dedicated to their initial task: figuring out what happened to Karlie and Khandalyce.

“It’s [the serial killer angle] is a concern we will look at, but at the moment all our focus is on the two victims and finding out how and why they died,” police informed the media.

Update – 29th October 2015

Police have now arrested a man in relation to the death of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson, who is believed to have been killed several months before her daughter Khandalyce Pearce. The man who has been charged is a 41-year-old from NSW who was arrested at the Cessnock Police Station and appeared in Maitland Local Court this morning. The man’s name has not been released.

Police now believe that Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson was murdered sometime between the 14th and 15th of December 2008, and that her daughter was killed sometime after. Detective Superintendent Mick Willing told reporters:

“Now we know that others have knowledge of what occurred to Karlie and Khandalyce and we need those people to come forward. The time to do that is now.”

Investigations are ongoing.

Update – 15th December 2015

Police have released the name of the man who they have arrested and charged in the murder of both Karlie Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter Khandalyce Pearce. The man’s name is Daniel James Holdom, aged 41 years old, and from New South Wales.

Holdom was charged with the murder of Karlie Pearce-Stevenson in October, more than five years after her body was uncovered in the Belanglo State Forest in New South Wales.

Initially Karlie went unidentified, and it wasn’t until several months after the remains of her daughter Khandalyce Pearce were discovered in a suitcase in South Australia that police were able to make the connection.

Now, along with charges relating to the murder of Karlie Pearce-Stevenson, Holdom has been officially charged with the murder of Khandalyce Pearce. He was taken into custody on Tuesday morning and charged with the toddlers murder at the Parramatta Police Station in the west of Sydney.

Police are still looking into claims that one or more individuals, including Holdom, used the identities of both Karlie Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter to claim welfare and access bank accounts and phones.

For now, investigations continue and a trial date has yet to be announced.