Re: New Zealand family discovers remains of two children in abandoned suitcases

[prentice]

In article <5sLWJ.121873$oF2....@fx10.iad>
<governo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> They're a little wacky down under. Probably belong to an ozzie.
>

The human remains of two young children have been found in two
abandoned suitcases that were bought at an auction in New
Zealand, police have confirmed.

Detective Inspector told reporters on Thursday that the children
were 5 to 10 years old when they died and had most likely been
deceased for several years.

Police opened a homicide investigation on Aug. 11 after a family
in Manurewa, South Auckland, bought the suitcases in an online
auction of abandoned goods left at a storage facility.

The family discovered the remains when they opened the suitcases
after taking them home. Police say the family is not connected
to the deaths.

According to the New Zealand Herald newspaper, a neighbor of the
family who was there when the auctioned items were unloaded from
a trailer said that there were also toys, prams and a walker.

Faamanuia could not confirm if police had spoken to the previous
owner of the storage unit, but said police were working with
Interpol and overseas agencies.

The family that made the shocking discovery has not been
identified and has asked for privacy, police said.

“We’re doing all right. As long as everyone leaves us alone,
we’ll be all right,” said a relative of the family who spoke to
the New Zealand Herald. The family that found the remains of the
children has now reportedly left Auckland, he added.

The identification procedure was still ongoing, Faamanuia said,
"which means that police are not yet able to comment on the
identities of the children."

"Once this is completed, our priorities is to contact the next
of kin,” he said.

The time lapse between the time of death and the discovery of
the bodies adds to the "complexities of the investigation,"
Faamanuia said.

"However, the investigation team is working very hard to hold
accountable the person or persons responsible for the deaths of
these children," he added.

<https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-family-children-
bodies-storage-unit-homicide-rcna43671>