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A family friend of a murdered Otago man warned his family in Australia about the company the young man had been keeping.
Michael Anthony Hutchings, 18, was stabbed to death, before being wrapped in a mattress cover, tied to two steel bars and dumped in the Clutha River.
Police have found traces of blood at his home at Kaitangata, 11km southeast of Balclutha, and say its possible that is where the stabbing took place.
Phil Barrett, of Benhar, near Balclutha who had known the family of eight for about five years, said he had rung Mr Hutchings' father in Australia to warn him.
"Some of the people that turned up here with him were - you know, if it was my boy, I wouldn't want him hanging out with them," he told the Otago Daily Times.
He said Mr Hutchings was "basically a good kid", who was a bit of a loner and easily led.
"He was quite gentle. I don't know how he got into a situation like that, to be quite honest with you."
The family had lived in the town for about five years, before moving to Australia in late 2006, after the tragic death of their two-week-old baby.
Mr Hutchings had planned to join them there, Mr Barrett said.
Mr Hutchings' parents Lyn and Mark Hutchings are intending to return to New Zealand.
Mr Hutchings' body was found floating in the Clutha river by a farmer on Saturday, near Stirling, 7km from Balclutha.
The steel bars weighing it down weighed 50kg, which has led police to believe at least two people were involved in his murder.
A post mortem examination found Mr Hutchings died from stab wounds to his neck and stomach.
Detective Inspector Ross Pinkham said a forensic examination of the victim's house and surrounds was continuing.
The bars used to weigh the body down each measured 210cm x 16cm x 2.5cm and featured several threaded bolt holes.
Police are unable to confirm how long Mr Hutchings body had been in the river, but have focused their inquiries between January 1 to January 12.
Mr Pinkham said police were seeking information from users of the river area relating to suspicious activity or sightings of vehicles which may have given cause for suspicion.
Police had spoken to most of Mr Hutchings' friends and associates, he said.
- NZPA
