The death of Daniel Morcombe was one of the most extensively investigated crimes in Queensland's history. The case had more media coverage than Australia’s ever seen before. But still with all the attention, the case lacked evidence. In late 2003, Senior Constable Martyn and Mr King, checked the alibis of all known sex offenders in the sunshine coast. On the 21st of December they Interviewed Cowan. Both officers immediately became suspicious.
As of 12 December 2008, a total reward of $1,000,000 had been offered.
By early 2009, the investigation had seemingly run out of leads, but in May a full-size clay model of the man believed to be involved in Morcombe's abduction was placed at the spot where Morcombe disappeared. Within a few days there were more than 300 tip-offs. In July 2009, the parents of Morcombe called for a coronal Inquest in the hope of finding answers to their son's abduction and murder. The Morcombes said that after 5½ years, it was time for an inquest. Of particular interest to the family were several criminals who had told police
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On 13 August 2011, Cowan was taken into custody and charged with Morcombe's murder and other offences, including child stealing, deprivation of liberty, indecent treatment of a child under 16, and interfering with a corpse. In 2006, Cowan had admitted to police that he travelled the road from which Morcombe disappeared on the same day of his disappearance, on his way to purchase marijuana from a drug dealer.[31][32] Around this time, a white Mitsubishi Pajero was seized from a property on Russell Island. The vehicle was believed to have been involved in Morcombe's abduction after a witness at the coronial inquest in April 2011 reported seeing a vehicle of similar description parked 100 metres (330 ft) north of the site where Morcombe was last