Murray Bridge murder suspect Travis Kirchner arrested in Melbourne suburb Doveton following five-day manhunt
THE family of a mother murdered in her Murray Bridge home has expressed relief after her suspected killer Travis Kirchner was caught in Victoria after five days on the run.
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THE family of a mother murdered in her Murray Bridge home has expressed relief after her suspected killer was caught in Victoria after five days on the run.
Sally Rothe, 54, was brutally bashed to death on Sunday night – sparking a major manhunt for Travis Kirchner, who was arrested by police in Victoria on Friday.
A family spokeswoman told the Sunday Mail that relatives, including son Jed and partner Mark, were “relieved”.
It is understood that friends had also been out “looking” for Kirchner.
“We hope to see justice,” she said.
“We just want to know what actually happened. We don’t know anything.
“She was trusting and she was just a really sweet lady.”
The spokeswoman said Ms Rothe “trusted the wrong people”.
Kirchner, along with a man, 49, and a woman, 50, were arrested without incident in the south-eastern suburb of Doveton at 6pm on Friday after a tip-off from SA Police.
Kirchner had evaded police after being identified on Monday as the suspect in the murder of Ms Rothe, whose battered body was found in her home by officers on Sunday evening.
The Victoria Police Fugitive Task Force and Homicide Squad attended the house in Doveton acting on information from the South Australian Police Major Crime Investigation Branch.
SA Police Minister Chris Picton said on Saturday that officers had “been investing a huge amount of effort and resources in tracking this person down”.
“Our police are going to be making it a first priority to get him moved back to South Australia so he can face very significant charges, as well as the people who allegedly have been harbouring him,” he said.
Mr Picton said he was informed by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Friday afternoon that the operation to capture him in Melbourne “had been underway” and of “the successful arrest”.
“There were many, many leads that police were following up,” he said.
“I think this was a matter of our police being ruthless in terms of every possible lead was followed up and no stone was unturned in terms of making sure we put this person in custody as soon as possible.”
SAPOL officers will travel to Victoria to apply for extradition.
The two people arrested with Kirchner face charges of assisting an offender to escape apprehension.
All three will appear in the Dandenong Magistrates Court on Monday.
Ms Rothe’s family was last night notified of the arrest – and police thanked the Murray Bridge community for their help.
“SA Police would like to thank everyone for their assistance and co-operation,” a spokesman said.
Following the discovery of Ms Rothe’s body, police launched a statewide manhunt, searching more than 110 properties in the Murray Bridge area.
Dozens of police and detectives descended on Murray Bridge.
The murder came to light after a passer-by walking their dog past the property on Albert Tce saw a man trying to kick down the door of the house about 8pm on Sunday.
A short time later police arrived to find the 54-year-old with significant injuries.
SA Police Major Crime officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said: “Any person who discovered the crime scene would be left with no doubt it was a deliberate murder of the lady.”
Det-Supt Bray made no secret of the target of his officers as they searched the town, saying they were investigating the illicit drug network and believed the wanted man may have been helped to evade police.
On Tuesday Kirchner’s sister Tracy made an emotional plea to her brother to hand himself in to police.
“I’m not sure what happened on Sunday night but the longer it goes on the harder it will be. I’m worried about where you are and just want you to come in safely,” Tracy said.
“No matter what has happened – you are my brother, I love you and I’m really worried about you. Please come in so I know you’re safe.”
Sightings of Kirchner were reported as far away as the Gold Coast and Victoria.
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