A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 31-year-old Malcolm John Naden.

Mr Naden was described as a man who "kept largely to himself" and, despite living in his grandparents' home for 15 years, went out of his way to avoid contact with family members.

Detectives say he is the key suspect in the murder of 24-year-old Kristy Scholes, who was found dead in Mr Naden's bedroom in a Bunglegumbie Road house on June 23.

They believe he can also "assist with their inquiries" into the disappearance of mother-of-four Lateesha Nolan, Ms Scholes' cousin, who was last seen on January 4 at the same Bunglegumbie Road house.

Mr Naden is a cousin of both women and disappeared the day before Ms Scholes' body was discovered on June 20.

Detectives from the State Crime Command - which has taken over the investigation - joined local police to pound Dubbo streets this week, door-knocking and speaking to potential witnesses. They focused on relatives and acquaintances in the West Dubbo area.

At the time of Ms Scholes' murder and Ms Nolan's disappearance, Mr Naden was living at the West Dubbo home with his grandparents.

A week before she died, Ms Scholes and her two children, aged three and four, had moved into the house while their own home was being repainted.

On the morning of June 22, Ms Scholes' four-year-old daughter was found wandering in the front yard, having cut her way out through a window flyscreen after she had been locked inside a bedroom.

Relatives sparked an immediate search, but her body was discovered only when police searched Mr Naden's bedroom early the following morning.

Detective Sergeant Bryne Ruse of the homicide squad said Mr Naden disappeared on June 20 - the day before Ms Scholes' body was discovered - and hadn't been seen since.

"We urge anybody who might know the whereabouts of Mr Naden, or who has any information regarding Ms Scholes' death, to contact police immediately," he said.

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Strike Force Durkin was set up to investigate the murder and has also been inquiring into the disappearance of Ms Nolan.

She also disappeared after leaving her children - aged one, three, four and five - with their grandparents at the Bunglegumbie Road home on January 4.

When she dropped off the children at 9pm, Ms Nolan promised to return shortly, but they never saw her again.

The following day her car - a 1996 blue Ford Falcon sedan with registration YOU 505 - was found abandoned in Tamworth Street, beside the Macquarie River.

A search of the river failed to reveal any sign of her.

Detective Sergeant Ruse said at the time of Ms Nolan's disappearance, Mr Naden was also living at the Bunglegumbie Road house.

"Mr Naden had been living at his grandparents' home for 15 years and kept largely to himself, spending long periods of time shut up in his bedroom," Detective Sergeant Ruse said.

"According to his family, he would leave the home via his bedroom window in order to avoid contact with other family members."

He said police wanted to speak to Mr Naden in relation to the murder of Kristy Scholes and police also believed he could assist with their inquiry into the disappearance of Lateesha Nolan.

"We have six very young children who have tragically lost their mothers and we urgently seek public assistance to help us solve these two incidents."

Mr Naden is described as being of Aboriginal appearance, 177cm tall, 85kg, with a medium build, olive complexion, brown eyes, shaved head and possibly a moustache and/or beard.

Detectives say it is possible he may have altered his appearance and may have fled to remote bushland areas to avoid detection.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.