Top cop 'cracked' suspect
2007-03-06 07:11
Johannesburg - The body of a seven-year-old girl abducted from her Pretoria home last month was found on Monday after help from the police investigator who broke the Leigh Matthews kidnap and murder case, said police.
The body believed to be that of Sheldean Human was found in a small river in Pretoria West, said Superintendent Eugene Opperman.
"The description, clothing and jewellery correspond to that worn by the missing child at the time of her disappearance on 18 February 2007," said Opperman.
The body was found after Senior Superintendent Piet Byleveld was brought in to question Andrew Jordaan, 25, who was already facing charges of kidnapping Sheldean.
Jordaan will appear in court again on Friday for a bail application and will now face charges of murder as well.
Intensive questioning
"Superintendent Byleveld intensively questioned Jordaan on Monday. Jordaan broke down and co-operated with police by showing them where he had hidden the body in a storm water inspection hole in Pretoria West," said Opperman.
Byleveld was the investigating officer in the Matthews case. He was brought in because Jordaan had a collection of newspaper clippings about that case.
Johannesburg student Matthews, 21, was kidnapped and murdered in 2004 by a fellow student.
Opperman said investigators had worked "non-stop" since Sheldean's disappearance from her Pretoria home, refusing to go off-duty until the child was found.
A police joint operational centre was set up at the Hercules police station shortly after the child was reported missing. Police from the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit, the hi-tech unit, Tshwane metro police and the Hercules police station manned the JOC.
"Their investigations and a search of the main suspect's room in Pretoria West revealed many newspaper clippings about the disappearance of Leigh Matthews," said Opperman.
They questioned Jordaan and at least two other suspects but could not link them to the case.
"During their investigations they stumbled across a child exploiter who allegedly sexually abused at least 13 children. However, they were unable to connect this suspect with Sheldean's disappearance."
Then Byleveld was brought in and the body was found on Monday evening.
Storm water had apparently washed the body out of a storm water outlet into the river.
"The body is in a state of decomposition and an autopsy will be held to determine the cause of death," said Opperman.
Gauteng provincial commissioner, Commissioner Perusal Naidoo, praised the law enforcement agencies for a "job well done" and thanked the community for their support and help in the search.
- SAPA