POLICE Commissioner Grant Stevens has dismissed speculation that a murdered child found by the side of an SA highway could be the world’s most high-profile missing girl, Madeleine McCann.

Mr Stevens today told a parliamentary estimates committee hearing that “clearly we’re looking at tragic circumstances here”.

“There is absolutely no evidence at this point in time that the child is Madeleine McCann … to suggest something like that at this point in time would purely be speculating to get attention,” he said.

“We are focusing our inquiries on South Australia but we would be considering any potential missing child. Until we ascertain the identity of the child we need to be open to all possibilities.”

media_camera Missing since 2007 — English girl Madeleine McCann was snatched from a Portuguese holiday resort. The picture at right is an age-advanced estimation of how she could have looked several years after her disappearance.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray updates media on Wynarka bones investigation Officer in Charge of Major Crime Investigation Branch, Detective Superintendent Des Bray, gives an update regarding the discovery of human bones at Wynarka in early July 2015. Courtesy: SA Police

Earlier, police said fabric used to make a distinctive homemade quilt found with the remains was manufactured in New York about seven years ago.

Major Crime officer in charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said police wanted to trace the origins of the quilt in a bid to find out how it came to be on the side of the Karoonda Hwy, near Wynarka, in the Murray Mallee.

They have released digital images that identify seven of the quilt’s 25 octagonal patches, which were sown into the quilt. Police hope someone will recognise the quilt.

It was found alongside the remains of what police say was a little girl, aged between two and four when she was violently killed.

media_camera The quilt, left, found in the suitcase, with the digital image, left, released by the police today that shows seven patches identified.

media_camera A close-up of one of the patches from the quilt.

Her skeletal remains had been dumped in a suitcase next to the highway up to four months ago.

But her bones had been tipped out of the suitcase when discovered by a passing motorist on July 15.

Det-Supt Bray said it was “more likely than not” that the little girl was never reported missing to authorities.

“It would be impossible to believe that someone didn’t love this little girl,” he said.

“It’s hard to believe someone hasn’t missed her.

“I thought when we started this job that we would quickly identify who this little girl was. “Somewhere out there is a mother, a father, at the very least an extended family that obviously lived near someone and I’m at a loss as to why someone hasn’t reported this little girl."

media_camera Detective Superintendent Des Bray with a photo of the musical note fabric used to make a quilt found with child’s remains. Picture: Campbell Brodie.

Det-Supt Bray said the distinctiveness of some of the items, including the quilt and a black tutu, found with the remains would help solve the mystery.

He said police believed some of the quilt fabric — coloured musical notes — was manufactured in New York in about 2008.

“The quilt is really important to the investigation,” he said.

“If we can find out who that quilt was given to or whether it ended up in an op-shop that will take us back to a geographical area.”

media_camera The quilt that was handmade specifically for a young child. Picture: SA Police

He said the quilt was homemade using a sewing machine and a polyester material was used to line its inside, which indicated it was made for a child.

Previously, police said the labels, decomposition of fabric and staining of clothes found with the remains indicated she was killed some time after 2007.

It was also likely she had fair hair and was 90-95cm tall when she was killed, police said.

Det-Supt Bray said the little girl was killed in a violent manner.

“We’re certain of how the little girl met her death — why, who and what circumstances, it’s just impossible to tell,” he said.

media_camera A mannequin with hair of a similar colour and length, dressed in new versions of items of clothing found with the body, along with suitcase found at the scene.

“It could fit any scenario.”

He said 55 calls had been made to Crime Stoppers about the quilt since police released its image to the Sunday Mail.

“We’ve had about 280 Crime Stopper calls being received in South Australia and across the country,” he said.

“I guess in terms of recent cases that’s unprecedented the number of calls we’re getting.”

Anyone with information about the murder is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.