Jose Omonte-Extrada has pleaded guilty to the murders of Jacinta-Leigh Fullerton and Rebecca Wild. 

Mr Omonte-Extrada appeared in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder.

The body of Ms Fullerton was found next to her Toyota HiLux about 100m from her grandparents' house in Quorn, where she was living, on December 5 last year.

Ms Wild's body was found buried in a shallow grave at Quorn Cemetery, about 5km from where Ms Fullerton's body was found.

Mr Omonte-Extrada was arrested shortly after the discovery of Ms Fullerton's body.

He will now await sentencing in the Adelaide Supreme Court on October 14.

Following the appearance of Omonte-Extrada in the Port Augusta court, Jessie’s father Noel Fullerton spoke to the media about the heartache that has devastated his family since Jessie’s murder.

Mr Fullerton’s wife, Isabel, passed away this week, and Mr Fullerton said Jessie’s death had ‘broken her heart’.

“My wife passed away this week and she had not got over Jessie’s death,” he said.

“Every time she saw a photograph of her or someone talked about her she went back to the day of the murder.

“We had to take her away to Darwin to get her out of the environment here that we’re in.

“When we came back we were going to take down all the photos in the house because looking at the photos just triggered it back to what it was.

“We just lost her now and I’ve got double problems.”

While Mr Fullerton said he was pleased Omonte-Extrada had entered a guilty plea, he expressed his concern for the legal system.

“As far as I’m concerned the legal system in this country is very strange,” he said.

“The rest of the family is very pleased that he admitted guilt, but the trouble is that everyone knows he’s guilty, so why do the courts go on for so long?

“Young Jessie, if she didn’t die, she probably would have got a medal because she went over there, she knew the bloke, and she went out of her way to help someone in stress, and she got killed for it.”

Mr Fullerton said he had been unable to obtain an official death certificate for Jessie as a result of the ongoing trial.

“I can’t even get a death certificate for that girl until the coroner courts decide they’re going to give it to me,” he said.

“Everyone knows how she died, they don’t know how brave she was when she died, but we can’t get a death certificate to finalise things.”

Mr Fullerton said he and his family would continue to grieve the death of Jessie, but hoped the court would sentence Omonte-Extrada appropriately.

How the murder unfolded

Officers arrested the man at his house in December 2012 following the discovery of Ms Fullerton's body next to her vehicle on Groves Road, Quorn.

Detective Superintendent Grant Moyle said police believed she was killed because she came into contact with the accused and his first alleged victim, Rebecca Wild.

Ms Fullerton was last seen alive after she left the Transcontinental Hotel.

"It would appear that the murder of Jessie was a result of her coming across this person with the first victim and as a result of that, it will be alleged that this is why she was murdered when she was," said Det Supt Moyle.

"He was certainly known to both victims in this matter.

"We know that the body of the Port Pirie girl was buried there [Quorn cemetery] in a shallow grave and it will be excavated this morning."

Ms Fullerton had suffered a head wound, he said.

Miss Wild was reported missing by her parents on Tuesday night before the discovery of her body at Quorn cemetery.

A Facebook post had been circulated, asking locals to keep an eye out for her.

"Last seen last night at Memorial Park at Port Pirie West concert (4/12/12). She told her parents that she was going for a walk to meet [her] boyfriend [but] never came home," it read.

"She was wearing [a] long, cream knitted top, black leggins and black ballet flats.

"She did not take any clothes, purse or phone charger. Her Facebook account has been closed and her phone off.

"Please help find her. Family are missing her."

The principal of the high school where Rebecca attended said students were grieving the loss of the popular student.

Students were offered counselling, said John Pirie Secondary School principal Roger Nottage.

Turn of events

Detective Superintendent Grant Moyle confessed he was personally disturbed by the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Jessie and Rebecca. 

The seasoned Major Crime force detective was answering questions at a media conference in Quorn in December 2012 when a reporter asked, "What's your reaction to this, you know, terrible scenario?"

"It has been quite an unusual course of events that have unfolded yesterday and last night," Det Supt Moyle replied.

"I would suggest that I thought nothing much would surprise me after my time in Major Crime but this certainly has."

Det Supt Moyle said the local State Emergency Service unit and vehicle would be included in the police investigation.

He also expressed his condolences to the families involved in the tragedy.

Jessie was a well-known Quorn local, famous for her love of animals and passion for camel riding.

In May 2012, she celebrated finishing a Certificate in Childrens' Services.

Miss Wild was in Year 10 at school in Port Pirie.