Scotland Yard has confirmed that the remains of a young blonde girl, found in a suite case in the Australian South, is not that of missing British girl Madeleine McCann.
Police reports states that McCann has been ‘totally excluded’ as the potential victim after inquiries into the suitcase found in the Australian wild near Adelaide was discovered on 15 July.
South Australia police said they had ruled out 43 missing children in connection with the discovery next to a remote motorway in Wynarka.
The decomposed body of a fair-haired girl, aged between two and five, was killed at another location in at least 2007.
Madeleine was three when she went missing from the family’s holiday apartment on the Algarve in Portugal on 3 May 2007.
Detective Sergeant Des Bray said in a media advisory, “I can confirm that Madeleine McCann has been totally excluded as a potential victim and UK police have been advised.”
But Police said the investigation continues. According to a South Australia Police Department spokesperson 125 calls were received from the public, with “10 potential victims identified” but all ten have subsequently been excluded from the investigation.
A forensic analysis of the human remains has not been able to establish its gender yet but police have already announced the child suffered a “violent, horrible death”.
“Forensic Science staff are working very hard to deliver a result as quickly as possible,” Bray said.
“We are hoping to be able to confirm the gender of the child this week.
“A DNA profile is also being taken of the child, however, that will take longer.”
Police are still searching for man seeing walking along the Karoonda Highway at Wynarka carrying a dark suitcase about six to eight weeks ago.
According to eyewitness reports the man was not a local and is described as being aged about 60, Caucasian, clean cut and neatly dressed with a light build.
Major Crime detectives have released images of clothing found along with the remains, including a purple Dora the Explorer T-shirt, blue pyjama shorts, and a pair of pink tracksuit pants, in the hope a member of public recognised them.
“We believe the child, aged between two and five years, was murdered at another location but the motive and exact time frame is unknown,” added Bray.
Images: SA Police released these images in a bid to identify the victim
Main image: Shutterstock