Major new detail in suitcase homicide case
A major new detail has been released by police pertaining to the recent grim discovery of primary-school-aged human remains inside a suitcase kept for years in a South Auckland storage facility.
A family member is being sought by South Korean police in connection to the two bodies found, and may actually be the children’s mother.
A police officer said the woman was a Korean-born New Zealander who arrived in South Korea in 2018. There has been no record of her departing South Korea since that time. It is unclear whether or not she had other relatives with her when she arrived in South Korea, her whereabouts were completely unknown.
New Zealand police had requested confirmation on whether the person who might be related to a crime case was in South Korea, adding that given her past address and age, she could be the mother of the kids.
Two family members of the deceased children are believed to be in Korea. In a press conference, Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia confirmed that NZ police were working with Interpol as part of the homicide investigation.
The remains were discovered on August 11, when people living at a Moncrieff Ave, Manurewa, house brought “unowned property” to the address, which they had purchased during an auction from the storage facility.
It was confirmed that the bodies of the children had likely been stored in the Papatoetoe Safe Store storage facility for three to four years before being discovered.
He was, however, hesitant to reveal too many details about what police knew of the renters or owners of the storage unit over concerns it may compromise the investigation.
When asked if police knew the identity of the people who were renting the storage unit, Vaaelua said: “Yes, we are following positive lines of inquiry in regards to the storage unit with the assistance of the storage company.”
Image: TNVZ/Handout