In the middle of August of 2022, news outlets constantly reported and updated reports of 2 children found in suitcases. People first learned of this when a family bought luggage from an auction. Suffice to say, they did not know of the contents of their purchase.
When we hear about these kinds of news, we can’t help but wonder how the deceased children found in suitcases remained unnoticed. This comes from the fact that the decaying bodies give off a pungent smell after some time.
A woman believed to be the mother of the two children whose remains were found in suitcases is currently in South Korea. Authorities found the two suitcases at an Auckland auction with two primary school-aged children.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Remains of Two Children Found in Suitcases in New Zealand
- Authorities Try to Locate Relative of Children Found in Suitcases
Remains of Two Children Found in Suitcases in New Zealand
Image Source: iStock
On the 18th of August, the New Zealand police confirmed that they found human remains in two suitcases. The bags were bought at an Auckland auction, and the remains of two primary school-aged children were found.
The New Zealand police then vowed to find the people responsible for this tragic incident. Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua leads the case regarding the case of the children found in suitcases.
According to him, the bodies were likely to have been in storage for already several years. The children found in the suitcases could be between five and ten years old.
Two Suitcases of Similar Size
Detective Inspector Vaaelua said that the authorities found the children in two suitcases of similar size. He then stresses the importance of this detail in the course of their investigation.
Meanwhile, the authorities also try to asses the time that passed between the time of death and when they got stuffed in the suitcases.
Additionally, they only discovered the remains of the two kids with a family brought a trailer-load of items. They intend to sell these items in bulk from a storage unit.
Concerning this, police clarified that the family concerned are not connected to the homicide. Instead, the family is “understandably distressed by the discovery.” Concerning this, the family is asking the authorities to protect their privacy.
The authorities found household and personal items alongside the suitcases in the initial investigation. These items will help provide more information about the cases and clues in identifying the victims.
Shortly after finding the suitcases, the forensic experts take over. They began the thorough examination of both the storage unit as well as the property.
International Investigation
“A lot of us [in the police] are parents,” said Detective Inspector Vaaelua. “We have a job to do, and we’re doing our very best to identify the victims.”
This particular case involving two children found in suitcases requires an international investigation. According to Detective Inspector Vaaelua, the New Zealand police are working with the international criminal agency Interpol in their investigation.
Police believed that the relatives of the victims were in New Zealand. Concerning this, the authorities also thought that the families might still be unaware that the children were already lifeless.
Fortunately, Detective Inspector Vaaelua and his team are making good progress regarding the DNA inquiries. He also tries to reassure the public how they aim to prioritise and resolve this case.
Authorities Try to Locate Relative of Children Found in Suitcases
Image Source: iStock
The police from Seoul, South Korea, found a lead regarding the cases of two children found in suitcases in New Zealand. According to a recent report, a woman believed to be the mother of the kids is currently in South Korea.
Concerning this, the woman is a Korean-born New Zealander. According to the police, she arrived in South Korea in the year 2018. However, she still resides in the country as she has had no record of departure since then.
Unfortunately, the authorities still have yet to discover further information about the woman. They are still investigating her whereabouts and whether she had other relatives with her in South Korea.
Authorities also reported that they requested to confirm the woman’s alleged connection with the deceased children. On the other hand, officials want to know if this case is related to other criminal cases in South Korea.
They also added that there could be a possibility that the woman is the mother of the two kids. The authorities believed that she was the mother after finding out about her past address and age.
The New Zealand police then launched a homicide inquiry this month. They immediately do this after a family, not related to the victims, finds out about the remains of the children. At that time, the family went through the contents of a storage locker they had purchased unseen.
The authorities then found out that the children found in the suitcases were about five and ten years old. Additionally, New Zealand police claimed that the kids may have been dead for several years. It could probably be about three or four years.
At present, the New Zealand Police are yet to confirm the details they got from the South Korean police.