The claim was made in a report today by legacy MSM outlet NZHerald.
NZHerald claimed to have confirmed from a number of sources that the family of the two pimary school-aged children whose remains were found in suitcases kept at a storage facility in Papatoetoe are now in Asia.
Whether this confirms the victims were actually of Asian origin is not clear from the report.
Police lead investigator Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua confirmed at a press conference on Thursday it was likely the bodies had been in the storage facility for between three and four years. At this stage their genders could not be determined.
The grim saga began when a Manurewa family purchased the suitcases as part of a deal for the contents of an abandoned unit at the storage facility. It was only when they returned to their house in Moncrieff Avenue and started unpacking the items that a member discovered the remains. Police were alerted immediately.
Police reiterated that this family were in no way connected with the deaths, having innocently purchased the suitcases. The family were understandably upset by the discovery and police warned media to stay away from them.
