"Asian Children Among Two Found Dead in Suitcase During New Zealand Family Mountain Trip"

New Zealand Police: "It Appears to Have Been Stored for at Least 3 to 4 Years"

Photo by New Zealand Herald capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] In New Zealand, the bodies of two Asian children were found in a bag purchased at an auction by a family.

On the 18th (local time), according to AP News and ABC News, New Zealand police stated, "The bodies were of children aged 5 to 10 who had been dead for several years," adding, "It appears the bodies had been stored in the bag for at least 3 to 4 years."

The police revealed, "The bodies were hidden in two travel bags of similar size."

Earlier, on the 11th, a family in the southern Auckland area of New Zealand discovered human remains in a travel bag they had bought at an auction and reported it to the police.

According to neighbors, a foul odor was noticed in the family's house after the vehicle carrying the bags arrived, and when the report was received, the police focused on homicide and conducted an autopsy on the bodies.

It is known that the deceased children had relatives living in New Zealand, and the investigating officers stated that the relatives are unaware of this incident.

The police said that although the investigation is still in its early stages, they will conduct a thorough inquiry to determine the crime scene, time, and method.

The police added, "The family who purchased the bags is not related to the incident and is deeply distressed by this matter," and said, "We are considering investigating the CCTV footage of the warehouse where the bags were stored, but since a lot of time has passed since the incident, obtaining the footage may not be easy." They also noted that the autopsy has not been completed yet and the final procedures to confirm the identities are underway.