March 29, 2024

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Two children's remains found in suitcases auctioned in New Zealand

Two children’s remains found in suitcases auctioned in New Zealand

(CNN) — New Zealand police have launched a homicide investigation after the remains of two children were found in suitcases bought by a family at an online auction, authorities said Thursday.

A liberationPolice said they were alerted to the case last week when a family from the south Auckland suburb of Manurewa reported human body parts in various items they bought from a shop.

The family has not been linked to the children’s deaths and are “understandably distressed,” police said.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Famanuya Walua told a press conference on Thursday that the children, aged between 5 and 10, had been dead for several years, perhaps three or four years.

An autopsy is underway to identify the children, Valua said. Investigators are also looking for clues about how, when and where the children died.

Waielua said police were working with Interpol and had opened inquiries with foreign agencies, but preliminary inquiries indicated relatives of the victims were in New Zealand.

“I feel so sorry for the victims or the families of these victims. And, right here, right now, there are family members who don’t know their loved ones are dead,” he added.

He said the case was “very disturbing news for the community”.

Police are trying to look at CCTV footage that could provide some clues, although they admit it will be difficult to get due to the passage of time.

The storage company is assisting police with investigations, and other household goods and personal items sold at the storage facility are being examined for links to the bags, police said.

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