It comes after police visited the scene again today, with a Fire and Emergency NZ crew at the scene washing it down with a fire hose.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin this evening said police have been preparing to lift their cordons at the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club on Rathlin St this afternoon. He said the scene examination was complete.
“Police have been in contact with immediate family, who are based in Australia, and we will keep them updated as the investigation progresses,” Baldwin said.
“Our thoughts are with Mr Thorpe’s family following this tragic event.”
Stephen Thorpe.
Stephen Thorpe a ‘gentle’, quiet scientist
Thorpe was a gentle, quiet scientist who was killed on his daily walk to search for insects and plants.
He was a keen entomologist who worked in an office underneath the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club seven days a week.
Gary Andrew, from the Whau River Catchment Trust, said he sat next to Thorpe every day at work.
Andrew said Thorpe left the trust’s office on Saturday morning around 11.30am for his daily exploration of the neighbourhood.
FENZ at the FENZ at the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club where Stephen Thorpe was stabbed to death at the weekend. 26 August 2024 NZME photograph by Dean Purcell Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club where Stephen Thorpe was stabbed to death at the weekend. 26 August 2024 NZME photograph by Dean Purcell
Fire and Emergency NZ crew at the Blockhouse Bay Tennis Club where Stephen Thorpe was killed on Saturday morning. Photo / Dean Purcell
“Someone attacked him, and, at this stage, we don’t know why,” he told the Herald.
“We have no idea. I just assume that it was with a knife because he died fairly quickly. He went back inside [the tennis club] and there was lots of blood, and he’s died there.”
Andrew described him as eccentric, with a dishevelled appearance which led some to assume he lived on the street. In the last few years, he had told colleagues he suspected he was on the autism spectrum.
“He was a small, slightly built, well-spoken, educated, gentle guy who would just never hurt a fly. It just felt incredibly sad that something has happened like this. It’s so pointless.”
Violent struggle before death
Police earlier revealed a “violent struggle” took place between Thorpe and his attacker.
Police said this morning they were hunting Thorpe’s attacker, who could have been stained with blood after the struggle.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said there was a “large amount of blood” at the scene and some of that would have transferred to the killer.
“This offender will have gone somewhere, likely in an agitated state and likely with some blood on him. Someone will know who this person is and I challenge them to do the right thing and come forward.”
Police are urging anyone with information to contact them on 105 or online, using ‘Update My Report’ and referencing Operation Elba, giving the file number 240824/4136. They can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
