Published: Less than 30 min ago
Earlier this week, New Zealand police launched a homicide investigation after human remains were found in suitcases sold at an Auckland auction.
Now the police announce that they are the remains of two children, who are believed to have been between five and ten years old. The children have not yet been identified, but their relatives are believed to be in New Zealand.
The remains, which were found in two similar-sized suitcases, are suspected to have been there for years before being bought by an unsuspecting family at an auction of forgotten items from rented storage. The family is not suspected of being involved, but is “understandably distressed” after the discovery, according to police Tofilau Famanuia Vaaelua.
The police now hope that household items and personal items found with the bags will provide clues about the identity of the victims, while “progress is being made with dna tests”.
– The investigators are working very hard so that the person or persons responsible can be held accountable for the children’s deaths, says Tofilau Famanuia Vaaelua.