In a trailer loaded with loose items
The bodies were in two suitcases of the same size, he said. “The nature of the discovery makes the investigation complex, especially given the time that elapsed between death and discovery,” added Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua. This macabre discovery required a family to purchase a trailer loaded with objects being sold in bulk at a warehouse.
The family in question are not linked to the death but are “understandably upset by the discovery” and have asked that their privacy be respected, Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua stressed. She was able to get help to cope with this trauma. Police are examining the other items, household or personal items, contained in the trailer to identify the victims.
She also watches hours of surveillance video, but key moments may have been erased due to the long delay between the deaths and the discovery of the bodies. For the same reason, the autopsy encounters difficulties in identifying the children. The camp and the property where the suitcases were taken were thoroughly searched by the science police. New Zealand police have contacted international agency Interpol despite believing their loved ones are in the country.
A difficult investigation
Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua expressed his condolences to the children’s family who may not have known they were dead. “This is not an easy investigation,” the inspector admitted. “No matter how long or how many years you work investigating horrific cases, it’s never easy.” “What I can say is that we’re making great strides in DNA testing,” he added. “The investigation team is working very hard to bring accountability to the person or persons responsible for the deaths of these children.”
A family neighbor who made the discovery told the New Zealand Herald he was looking after their home as they left Auckland to avoid media attention.