A second person charged over the murder of a mother-of-two found dead following a horror house fire is understood to be the alleged victim’s ex-wife.
Krystal Marshall, 38, was found dead by emergency services in her home in the Adelaide suburb of Aldinga Beach after a house fire on October 20 last year.
A 48-year-old man was previously charged with murder and arson a day after Krystal’s body was found.
A breakthrough came on Thursday when detectives arrested a Para Hills West woman, 29.
She was charged with one count of murder, defiling human remains and arson and remanded in custody to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday.
It’s understood the woman charged on Thursday is Krystal’s ex-wife Anastasia Marshall, The Adelaide Advertiser reported.
A second person charged with the murder of a mother-of-two Krystal Marshall (pictured) has been revealed to be her ex-wife, Anastasia Marshall
It’s understood that Anastasia Marshall (left) has been charged with the murder of her ex-wife Krystal Marshall (right)
Police revealed on Thursday that an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers three days after Krystal’s body was found provided information which led to the arrest of the Para Hills West woman.
Both people arrested charged over Krystal’s death are known to each other.
Police allege that Krystal was killed on October 19 with the house set on fire the next day.
‘The allegation will be that together those two people, and those two people alone, are responsible for the death of Krystal,’ Detective Superintendent Des Bray told reporters.
Police hope to hear again from the anonymous caller who contacted Crime Stoppers with an online report at 5.25pm on October 22.
‘That person conveyed specific knowledge in respect to the murder and who might be responsible. It’s very important to the investigation that that person get in touch and ask to speak to Major Crime,’ Det Supt Bray said.
‘We had 15 or 16 Crime Stoppers reports but that was the only report that detailed specific and intimate knowledge of the crime,
Police have also appealed to anyone who saw or heard anything in the vicinity of the Barracoota Crescent home around 3.30pm on Friday 20 October, including any dashcam or CCTV footage obtained that may be relevant to the investigation.
Police have also appealed for any information about two vehicles seen in the area.
The first is a blue Holden Astra which stopped outside a Barracoota Crescent home and spoke to a person on October 19.
A person emerged from the premises to talk to the driver before leaving.
The second was a large white van which was in the street on October 20 around the fire started and watched on for some time before leaving.
The male driver is described as having facial hair and wore an orange turban, green high-vis vest and dark trousers.
The police also want to speak with the driver of a blue Holden Astra (pictured) seen in the area on the day of the blaze
South Australian Police want to speak with the driver of a white delivery van (pictured) seen in the area on October 20
Police allege that mother-of-two Krystal Marshall may have died a day before her body was inside her home
Det Supt Bray stressed that the vehicles relevance to the case remains unclear at this stage.
Firefighters were called to the home, south of Adelaide on October 19 after neighbours spotted black smoke billowing from it.
Krystal was unable to escape, with firefighters finding her body in her bedroom after the blaze was put out.
She lived there with her ex-wife, their two children and a friend.
Two dogs and a cat were rescued from the burning home by neighbours, who didn’t realise Krystal was also inside.
Krystal’s friends created a Go Fund Me page to support her two children and family left behind.
‘Krystal wasn’t just Krystal she was a daughter, a mum, a wife, a sister, an aunty, a friend or a neighbour and touched the hearts of many who knew her,’ it stated.
‘Unfortunately Krystal leaves behind two beautiful daughters … who are still coming to terms with the loss of their mum.’
Emergency services workers are pictured at the scene of the fire at Aldinga Beach, Adelaide
