NSW Police have searched homes in the ACT and South Australia as their investigation into the muders of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson and her daughter Khandalyce ramps up.
Speaking to the media on Friday, NSW homicide squad boss Detective Superintendent Mark Willing said Strike Force Malaya had been formed to co-ordinate the multi-jurisdictional investigation.
"We've searched a number of homes in the ACT and South Australia of people we suspect are connected with Karlie and Khandalyce and those searches have been very productive," he said.
"We're speaking to people we suspect have actual knowledge of what occured to this young mum and her little girl."
A police spokeswoman told the media the homes that were searched were not related to possible suspects were are currently serving unrelated sentences for violent crimes in NSW prisons.
The remains of the 20-year-old single mum and her little girl Khandalyce, were found five years and 1200km apart.
Karlie's body was discovered in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney, in 2010 while her daughter's bones were found in a discarded suitcase beside a highway near Wynarka, in South Australia's southeast, in July.
The police spokeswoman said the car Karlie was driivng at the time has since been re-registered from the Northern Territory to NSW plates.
She said the last registered owner of the car had been discounted as a suspect but had given police a new lead in the investigation.
Detective Superintendent Willing said police had been overwhelmed by support from the community and the media, and he asked that the support continue.
“There is every indication that friends or associates – people Karlie may have met or been in contact with while travelling between 2006 and 2010 – hold the key to their deaths," he said.
"This is now a multi-jurisdictional investigation, which spans at least two states and two territories over a time period of up to 10 years.
“Our focus is gathering evidence and building a solid case.
“We want to charge those responsible and ensure a conviction for what can only be described as the brutal murder of a young mum and her little girl.”
Karlie was 20 when she was last seen driving near Coober Pedy with then two-year-old Khandalyce in November 2008.
"(We are) appealing for people from across the country who may have seen this young mum and this little girl at any time in the last 10 years so we can piece together their moments," Detective Superintendent Willing told the Seven Network.
Landlords and operators of hotels, motels, caravan and cabin parks are being urged to check their records for any sign of Karlie.
Meanwhile family say the pair will be laid to rest in Alice Springs thanks to funds raised by the public and the help of the local government.
An online campaign, which kicked off on Wednesday, raised nearly $4000 in two days.
On Thursday afternoon, $1060 short of the $5000 target, the campaign ended after an offer of help.
"With your help this campaign was brought to people's attention and we have now been offered some assistance from local government with costs," a post from someone who appeared to be family of the deceased said.
