New Zealand auction finds child remains in suitcases

• A New Zealand family discovered the bodies of two children hidden in suitcases in a batch of abandoned goods purchased at a storage unit auction.
• The children, aged five to ten, had been dead for several years.
• Police are attempting to determine their identities as part of an investigation that may have international ramifications.

A New Zealand family discovered the bodies of two children hidden in suitcases in a batch of abandoned goods purchased at a storage unit auction.

The children, aged five to ten, had been dead for several years, and the bodies had been in storage for at least three or four years, according to detectives.

Police are attempting to determine the identities of the children as part of an investigation that may have international ramifications.

The Auckland family had purchased the personal and household items in an online auction and hauled them home last week.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua insisted they had nothing to do with the deaths and were understandably upset by their discovery.

He stated that the investigation was in its early stages but would be thorough.

“The investigation team is working very hard to hold accountable the person or persons responsible for the deaths of these children,” he said.

“No matter how many years you serve and investigate horrific cases like this, it’s never an easy task.

“I myself am a parent of young kids. But we have a job to do.”

He also stated that police had contacted Interpol and other international policing agencies, which could indicate that officers believe the suspect or suspects are now living abroad.

“The nature of this discovery provide some complexities of the investigation especially given the time lapse between the time of death and their discovery,” he added.

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