Police look for criminal links to missing man

Stephen George is missing. Police believe tests will show the body found in his burned-out Tirohanga house is his.

Taupo police are appealing for information on whether missing farm worker Stephen George, who is believed to have been murdered, had criminal associates.

Police launched an investigation after a man's body was found in the burned remains of Mr George's house at Tirohanga, 40km north of Taupo, on October 9.

The body has not been formally identified but police believe it is that of the 35-year-old father of four.

They upgraded their inquiry to homicide on Friday when they learned Mr George's 1993 grey Nissan Primera saloon had been found burned-out and with the numberplates missing near Mangakino, 30km northwest of Tirohanga.

Detective Sergeant Dave Beattie, of Taupo, yesterday appealed to Mr George's friends for photos of the missing man, his car, and his Paerata Rd house before it was destroyed.

"We would also like to hear from friends or associates who had any concerns about Stephen, in particular who he was knocking around with, any associates that may be associated to a criminal environment, any discussions they may have had with Stephen that caused them concerns for his safety," Mr Beattie said.

Information could be dealt with confidentially.

Formal identification of the body from DNA samples is expected to take up to two weeks and Mr George's family have delayed a funeral until then.

His wife and children live at Te Awamutu, but he lived alone at Tirohanga for his job.

Mr George's mother, Lindsay, said yesterday that she found it hard to believe anything sinister had happened to him.

"He was a great, happy-go-lucky guy. I just can't go there."

But she admitted not knowing who her son associated with outside the family. "He led his own life."

Police have set up a hotline (0800 STAR 09, or 0800 782-709) for calls relating to the investigation, dubbed Operation Star.

They are eager for sightings of Mr George's car, registration YO6136, in the days after the fire.

Mr Beattie said Mr George left Kihikihi, just south of Te Awamutu, at 1.15am on the day his house burned down. It was reported to be on fire at 4.15am.

The drive from Kihikihi to Tirohanga is about 100km and takes an hour.

Mr George's father said his son usually drove from Te Awamutu via Mangakino across the Whakamaru Dam and then used a forestry road to reach Tirohanga.

Police say they are focusing on those areas.