Carmen's body thought to be in bush

A female detective sits with Brad Callaghan at the site where he was working yesterday. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The body of murdered Aucklander Carmen Thomas is believed to have been dumped in bush southeast of Auckland.

Police this week stopped vehicles around Whitford, quizzing drivers about a sighting of her car in the area in late June or early July.

The vehicle was later found in Hamilton with traces of the 32-year-old's blood inside.

It is increasingly thought that her body was disposed of - possibly cut into pieces and weighted down with concrete - in the Hunua Ranges, between Auckland and Waikato.

The vehicle may have been driven to Hamilton on by-roads afterwards to avoid highway cameras and public sightings.

When asked about the circumstances of Ms Thomas' murder, Detective Inspector Mark Benefield said: "We don't know what happened to Carmen or where she is."

Asked whether traces of concrete or lime had been found in her car or at other sites of interest, Mr Benefield said he could not comment further.

"We can't elaborate on the forensic evidence that we have, aside from to confirm the presence of blood inside her car."

Friends of Ms Thomas' former partner, engineer Brad Callaghan, rallied to his support yesterday after the Herald revealed that the police had spoken to his colleagues at the Mansons property development company in Parnell on Wednesday while he was away from the office.

Colleen Ritson Poole wrote on Ms Thomas' Facebook page that Mr Callaghan was not only a victim but a lovely person who was having to "love and protect" his little boy.

Mr Callaghan has a 5-year-old son, Jack, with Ms Thomas.

Angela Dorreen said Mr Callaghan didn't deserve the media attention.

"Brad is an absolute gentleman, a great and loving father, and definitely does not deserve this."

Shortly after midday yesterday, three plain-clothes officers - observed by a Herald reporter and photographer - visited the site where Mr Callaghan was working.

They spoke to him for 15 minutes in a meeting room before leaving in the same car seen at the Mansons offices the day before.

Mr Benefield said yesterday that police were in "regular contact with the father of Carmen's child".

"Today's interactions were to do with supporting the family and victims of crime."

Mr Callaghan did not return messages last night, but previously said he had spoken to the police "numerous times".

Earlier, police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said Mr Callaghan had given a formal statement.

Although South African-born Ms Thomas was last seen on June 27, a text was sent to her employer from her phone on July 3.

She worked at a Pakuranga men's club.

Her three-door Nissan Pulsar hatchback, with the registration plate ATS209, was discovered in Dyer St, Hamilton, on July 13.

Police believe it was abandoned there on July 7 or 8.

They found enough blood inside the car to make them believe Ms Thomas had been murdered.

But they are still at a loss as to how the car got to Hamilton.

Officers this week spoke to motorists in Whitford after a newly reported sighting of her car around the time she went missing.

Hundreds of drivers were stopped on Sandstone Rd and asked to fill out a questionnaire. They were also shown photos of Ms Thomas' hatchback.

Asked this week whether it was possible that the car travelled along back roads to Hamilton through the Hunua area to escape detection, Ms Hegarty said the police were ruling nothing out.

"The short answer is that we don't know what happened to Carmen. Someone out there knows something and we need that person to contact us."

Police are appealing for information on a blue-lidded wheelie bin - serial number 014172 - missing from her home in Remuera.

This morning, Detective Inspector Benefield said in a statement that he acknowledged there was plenty of "speculation and rumours" regarding the case.

"It's important that anyone who has information that could progress the investigation pass it onto Police", he said.


CAN YOU HELP?
Anyone with information about the case can phone 0800 KEPPEL (0800-537-735), email whereiscarmen@police.govt.nz or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.