A suspect on the run for five-days wanted in connection with the death of a mother in South Australia has been arrested.
Travis Kirchner was picked up by police on Friday night along with two other people at a house in Doveton, south east Melbourne, in relation to their investigation into the death of Sally Rothe.
He had been named as a wanted man by police following her suspected murder in Murray Bridge on Sunday and officers from Victoria Police visited the property after receiving a tip off.
WANTED: South Australian detectives desperately hunting Travis Kirchner, 43, arrested him in Melbourne on Friday
Kirchner was arrested shortly after 6pm ‘without incident’ along with a man and a woman at the house on suspicion of assisting an offender escape apprehension, police said.
Ms Rothe’s family have been told of the arrests in Victoria, police said.
Officers have carried out searches of 110 properties in a massive manhunt since Ms Rothe was found brutally killed in the town east of Adelaide.
This included extensive use of investigation resources ranging from uniformed police, dog and water operations to STAR Group and the Murray Mallee Local Service Area’s Criminal Investigation Branch.
Kirchner, 43, will appear in court on Monday in Dandenong as investigators from South Australia travel to Melbourne to apply for extradition orders for the trio to face charges in their home state.
The two other people arrested alongside Kirchner were a 49-year-old man and 50-year-old woman, both from Murray Bridge.
VICTIM: Sally Rothe – described by friends as ‘very spiritual’ and as a mother-of-three – was found dead at her Albert Terrace, Murray Bridge, home about 8pm on Sunday
A statement from SA Police said: ‘Police have arrested wanted man Travis Kirchner, along with another man and woman who he was in company with, at a Victorian home this evening.
‘Kirchner was wanted in connection with the death of mother-of-three Sally Rothe in Murray Bridge on Sunday night.
‘Officers from Victoria Police Fugitive Task Force and Homicide Squad attended a home in Doveton after receiving information from SAPOL’s Major Crime Investigation Branch and arrested Kirchner without incident.
Crime scene: Neighbours woke up to shocking scenes in sleepy Murray Bridge on Monday following the slaying death of Sally Rothe
‘The arrest comes after extensive searches of more than 110 properties since Sunday utilising numerous SAPOL resources.
‘The family of Sally Rothe have been notified of the arrests.
‘SA Police would like to thank everyone especially the Murray Bridge community for their assistance and cooperation during the investigation and to all of those who passed on information through Crime Stoppers.’
Detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone with information relating to the investigation to come forward and call Crime Stoppers South Australia.
Ms Rothe was killed by a man known to her, and well known to police, Detective Superintendent Des Bray told reporters
It comes just days after two other people were arrested by cops who pulled them over on a busy highway.
Footage was captured near the Murray Bridge on Wednesday afternoon of two men being held on the ground by officers.
Kirchner’s sister Tracy released a statement on Tuesday calling for her brother to hand himself in.
She 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.’
Anyone with information on the woman’s death is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Police previously said they were desperately searching for a man with a tiger tattoo and ‘possible’ rat’s tail following the brutal slaying of a ‘very spiritual’ mother-of-three on Sunday.
Sally Rothe, 54, was found dead at her home in the sleepy town of Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide, South Australia, shortly after 8pm.
Detectives said there was ‘no doubt’ Ms Rothe had been murdered and pleaded for the public’s help.
A dog-walking neighbour rang police after spotting a man trying to kick Ms Rothe’s door.
Ms Rothe body was discovered with ‘significant injuries’, Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.
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