Police believe there is a strong possibility that the skeletal remains found alongside the Karoonda Highway, near Wynarka, could belong to a local Murray Mallee girl.
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While Major Crime Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray did not confirm the allegation he said the towns of Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend, Karoonda, Wynarka and Pinnaroo and the entire Murray Mallee and Riverland regions were areas of interest.
"It's really hard to know (where she came from) but we think that is one positive line on inquiry, that this little girl may come from this area, and indeed the offender may come from within that area I'm talking about," he said.
"Is there anything certain for that, no, but certainly that's something that has to be looked at.
"We know that the little girl was left somewhere for quite a long period of time after her death and she was obviously (then) taken ... and dumped on the side of the road so, you know, it's a strong possibility that both of those events started in this area."
Task Force Mallee began a large-scale canvass of the Wynarka area today and are working with about 50 other police from the Murray Mallee Local Service Area and State Tactical Response Group to door knock houses in and around the township of Karoonda.
Detective Superintendent Bray said those police would be speaking with residents, businesses operators and employees, schools, doctors and anyone else connected with the local community as part of the operation.
"We believe that someone in this area will have vital information for investigators," he said.
"Someone loved this little girl; someone other than her killer knows who she is and what happened to her.
"We are appealing to that person to come forward and talk to us."
Investigators believe a little black dress and the homemade quilt - which were both found with the girl - may hold the key to identifying her.
"The reality is we haven't had anybody come forward that has had that exact quilt so we do think that quilt is still very distinctive and could hold the key to solving this," Detective Superintendent Bray said.
He also said there were only 28 of the dresses sold throughout South Australia about eight years ago and said it was not sold over the internet or in markets "so again that dress may hold the key".
"It's a very challenging investigation and I don't think anyone would have thought that weeks later we would still be trying to identify the little girl," he said.
- Details: Anyone with information that may assist the investigation, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at https://sa.crimestoppers.com.au/
