Body found in car being treated as suspicious by police
Hawke’s Bay Police have confirmed that they are treating the death of a person found in a burnt vehicle this week as suspicious.
Police said in a statement today they are following positive lines of enquiry and can confirm a post mortem has been conducted this morning.
The car fire at a property on Irongate Road West was reported to Police at 8.20pm yesterday on 26 March. Police released a statement on Wednesday morning about the fire but did not mention that body was in the car. A further statement on Wednesday afternoon revealed that abody had been discovered.
Hawke’s Bay App understands that Fire and Emergency NZ notified police about a “mass” in the boot of the car on Tuesday evening.
Detective Inspector Martin James said in a statement today that police are aware of commentary around the death and urge anyone with information to come forward to Police.
“We would especially like to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage on Irongate Road West and Sunderland Drive, between 4:30pm and 8:30pm on Tuesday 26 march.”
Police ask anyone with information to contact Police via 105 or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report.
Please reference file number 240327/2456.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police say that more information will be provided when available.
This is the second case of a body being found in a burnt vehicle in Hawke's Bay in the last number of years. In September 2022, the body of 18-year-old Ariki Rigby was found in an abandoned vehicle at a car park outside Havelock North. The condition of the vehicle and debris from the fire, meant that police “did not immediately identify that human remains were in a vehicle. The body was mistaken for being that of a sheep. Police were called to the scene two days later by dog walker and a further inspection revealed suspected human remains.
Police confirmed later that the body was Ariki Rigby. No one has been arrested in connection with her case.
