Police are analysing several items found in the remains of a fire at the rural Queensland home of an accused kidnapper.
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Eden James Kane, 45, is accused of snatching a three-year-old girl from her family’s Childers home in the early hours of April 10.
Mr Kane did not appeal for bail on Thursday when he faced Bundaberg Magistrates Court for a second hearing since his arrest on Tuesday night.
He will remain behind bars until his next court hearing in June.
The toddler, who cannot be named under Queensland law, was snatched from the lounge room of the home in the town of Childers, about 300 kilometres north of Brisbane.
She was mysteriously returned to the showgrounds opposite her family’s home two days later and was found crouched in the darkness and calling for her mother by police about 12.30am on Saturday.
On Wednesday, police prosecutor Senior Constable Donna Sperling told the court the remains of a fire were found at Mr Kane’s South Isis property, where he allegedly cared for the toddler, even washing her hair.
‘‘During investigations at the defendant’s address, police have located remains of a fire with remnants of some items in it,’’ said Senior Constable Sperling, according to the Bundaberg News Mail.
‘‘There is a concern if the defendant is released he will attempt to destroy that evidence.’’
Detective Inspector Bruce McNab would not confirm reports a burnt camera and memory card had been found at the property, but said the remnants of the fire were being analysed by scientific officers.
Inspector McNab said Mr Kane, whose property is no more than four kilometres from the home of the toddler’s family, did not know her parents or relatives.
Police allege Mr Kane had been planning to flee Queensland before officers, who were responding to a reported break-in at a Bauple tennis centre, arrested him in Maryborough.
He was allegedly driving his car which was full of his own possessions and told police he had to leave Childers ‘‘because of all the heat ... about the missing girl’’.
When questioned further, Mr Kane allegedly said he took the girl because he ‘‘felt sorry for the conditions she was living in’’.
Mr Kane has been charged with abduction and deprivation of liberty.
His case was adjourned until June 12.
