A woman believed to be a relative of two children whose remains were found in two suitcases auctioned in New Zealand has been found in South Korea, Seoul police told AFP on Monday.
Last week the New Zealand Police announced the discovery of the remains of two children who, according to coroners, were 5 and 10 years old at the time of death. The bodies were found in a trailer that a family had bought at a junk auction.
New Zealand Police said the bodies had been kept for several years, making the crime more difficult to investigate.
Seoul authorities said Monday that a South Korean woman believed to be related to the children is in South Korea.
“We confirm that she is in the country and is a New Zealand citizen of Korean origin,” a Korea National Police officer told AFP. She would have arrived in South Korea in 2018 and there is no record of her leaving the country in the same year.
“New Zealand Police are leading the investigation and we will comply with their requests,” the officer added.
Police have examined hours of video footage, but crucial moments may have been erased due to the time that elapsed between the deaths of the victims and the discovery of the bodies.
“We are doing our best to identify the victims. What I can say is that we have made great progress with DNA testing,” New Zealand Police said on the day of the discovery.
Both the warehouse and the property on which the sacks were transported are being examined. New Zealand officials reiterated that the family who found the bodies had nothing to do with the killings. She receives support in processing the trauma.
South Korea successfully launches first homemade space rocket