Auckland City Police are confident that today they started recovering the dismembered remains of 32 year-old Remuera mother, Carmen Thomas.
Ms Thomas was last seen alive on June 27 and Police today started excavating items from a site in the Waitakere Ranges. The items will be transferred to the Auckland City Morgue for forensic post-mortem examination tomorrow.
Detective Inspector Mark Benefield, officer in charge of the investigation into Carmen's disappearance, death and disposal, said information came to the investigation earlier this week and Police have been acting on it since.
The Police Specialist Search Group was deployed to the investigation yesterday and assisted ESR scientists with today's partial excavation in an area of bush.
"While we are unable to formally identify Carmen Thomas at present, we're confident that we have found where she was buried and will now go about the process of returning her to her family and loved ones so that she can be given a dignified resting place.
"I know there will be a lot of unanswered questions for people who have been following this tragedy through the media and on various social networking sites, but I'm unable to answer everything as there are serious matters before the Court and I do not want to risk compromising anyone's right to a fair trial.
"What I can tell you is that my team has worked tirelessly on this investigation since we were made aware on July 13 that Carmen was missing and, while we are relieved that we believe we have found her, it's a very sad time for her family and for those of us who, initially, hoped to be able to find her alive."
Mr Benefield said he could not rule out the possibility of further arrests but that none were imminent.
"Any information passed to us during this investigation has been treated as confidential and that won't change.
"Having said that, we are still assessing information received recently and will determine in due course whether anyone other than the murder accused is criminally implicated in Carmen's death or disposal."
The excavation of the site will continue tomorrow.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz