The human remains of two young children were recently found in suitcases won at a storage unit auction by a family in New Zealand.
After purchasing a trailer-load of items in an auction at a South Auckland storage facility, the family brought them home and began to unpack their newly acquired goods. It was then that they made the gruesome discovery that had been lingering in the suitcases for some time, per BBC News.
Typically, buyers at storage facility auctions are unable to inspect items before purchasing, and this is what makes them popular - as there is always potential for buyers to hit the jackpot with rare and valuable items.
Per the BBC report, neighbors had recalled smelling a distinctly foul odor that was emanating from the family's home after they brought the auction items home. "I knew straight away and I thought, where is that coming from?" one neighbor, who used to work at a crematorium, said.
The police were eventually alerted after the family's discovery on Thursday (August 11), and a homicide investigation was launched on August 12.
However, it wasn't until a recent press conference that the situation became more distressing, after New Zealand police were able to confirm that the investigation was dealing with children's remains.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua, the Counties Manukau District Crime Manager, was able to confirm in a police press conference earlier this week that a post-mortem examination revealed the remains were those of school-aged children between 5 and 10.
Speaking to the press at the Counties Manukau police station, Vaaelua stated: "[Yesterday's] update will be extremely upsetting news for the community to hear [...] Early indications suggest these children may have been deceased for a number of years before being found last week."
Vaaelua also revealed that the New Zealand police were working with international law enforcement agency, Interpol. "We've commenced inquiries with overseas agencies. I cannot state any further than that," the Detective Inspector said.
He said that police have been working on the challenging task of scouring years worth of surveillance footage surrounding the storage facility for any clues.
It was also sadly confirmed that the remains of the children had been in the suitcases in the storage facility for roughly three to four years, but that the family who discovered the remains were not linked to their deaths and were requesting that the media respect their privacy.
"We reiterate that the occupants of the Moncrieff Avenue property are not connected to their deaths. They are understandably distressed by the discovery, and they have asked for privacy. We are ensuring there is support in place for them," Vaaelua told the press.
In a further statement released by the Vaaelua and the New Zealand police on Wednesday, it was revealed that the investigation was still waiting on pending test and examination results. "The very nature of this discovery means this is a complex investigation – and it will take time," the statement read.
Understandably, the investigation has been difficult on detectives, but Vaaelua assured the local community that they were doing what they could to identify the children so their family could be notified.
"I really feel for the families of these victims and right here right now there are relatives that aren't aware that their loved ones have deceased," he told the press.
"As for the investigation team, there are a number of them that are parents. This is no easy investigation and no matter how long or 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," Vaaelua acknowledged.
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