Detectives have revealed that the bodies of two young children were among the human remains found in two suitcases that were purchased at an auction in New Zealand.
According to them, the victims were believed to have been between the ages of five and ten when they passed away, and the bodies had likely been in storage for a number of years.
The cases’ recovered items are being examined in an effort to identify them.
After purchasing the luggage last week, a family in South Auckland opened them at their house and discovered the remains inside.
Two similar-sized luggage were used to conceal the kids, according to Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua disclosed.
Given the amount of time that has passed between the time of the death and the time of the discovery, “the nature of this finding presents significant challenges to the inquiry,” he said.
As well as using personal and household items found alongside the cases in a bid to identify the dead children, police are checking hours of CCTV footage. But they fear key moments may have been erased because of the length of time that has elapsed.
Though it is believed that the victims’ families are in the nation, Det Insp Vaaleua stated that police in New Zealand were cooperating with the international criminal police organisation Interpol.
Det Insp Vaaelua declared, “This is not a simple inquiry.”
“I can only say that our DNA research is moving along quite well.
The family that discovered the deaths is believed to have visited the storage facility last Thursday and bought a trailer-load of belongings, which included the luggage, from a nearby storage business.
They were upset and receiving support, Det Insp Vaaelua emphasised, even though they had no involvement in the fatalities.
Forensic specialists have carefully inspected both the storage facility and the property where the luggage were removed.