A missing teenage girl, allegedly kidnapped by a violent criminal, may have been spotted in Wellsford.
LA Tukerangi, 15, told her family on Saturday morning she was being held against her will by Dean Wayne Whakatau, 36, who was recently released from jail, and has faced charges of rape and kidnapping in the past.
Police said they had "grave concerns" for the Auckland teenager.
The pair are believed to have been in Rotorua CBD on Sunday, and may have spent time in Taupo in the last two weeks.
However, LA's mother Marie Tukerangi said the family had been told this morning of a possible sighting in Wellsford, north of Auckland.
"All of these sightings are unconfirmed at this stage and we are following through on those reports. A number pre-date Sunday when Whakatau was seen in Rotorua.
"We are not going to discuss the detail of unconfirmed reports as there is a risk that publication of such reports may be interpreted as fact and this could be unhelpful to the investigation."
LA's father has made an emotional plea for her return, as her family face another day of waiting.
LA told her family on Saturday morning she was being held against her will by Dean Wayne Whakatau, 36, who was recently released from jail, and has faced charges of rape and kidnapping in the past.
Police said they want to speak to Dean Wayne Whakatau. Photo / Supplied via Police
On the fourth day since her desperate plea for help on Saturday, the Tukerangi family are still waiting to hear from LA.
Her father Chris Tukerangi made an emotional plea for her return this morning.
"We care and love our daughter LA dearly, so please just drop her off at the nearest police station, or anywhere," he said, speaking to Radio New Zealand.
"Please, we need our daughter back."
The family were finding it difficult to sleep, Mr Tukerangi said, and were worried because Whakatau was a dangerous man.
"She was forced into his car or taken away with him and she stayed with him for a couple of weeks saying that she was fine, until Saturday just gone [when] she got in contact with us and said she was desperate for her life."
He later added: "As far as I'm concerned, I'm her father, I know her, she could be trying to play the cool person saying, 'no me and Dean are OK', but that's only to save her life probably, because this guy is dangerous the public are told not to approach this guy."
Whakatau was "sort of like the adopted brother" of LA's 16-year-old boyfriend, Mr Tukerangi said. The missing teenager and Whakatau were not in a relationship, he said.
"That's what everyone thinks, and I know my daughter, she's a bit of a follower. She's either a real good girl, or sort of easily influenced.
"But at that age, you're just not in any control to make any important decisions. She would have made a split decision, we understand that she was under the influence of alcohol at the time too.
"So it's quite easy for a person like Dean to manipulate a person like that."
Her mother Marie told NZME News Service this morning they had not heard anything from LA or the police overnight about her whereabouts.
"I know his [criminal] history ... makes him sound way worse than he is," Whakatau's sister Dani said yesterday.
In a statement police said they were continuing to try to locate the teenager.
"At this point in time there is just one focus and that is to speak to LA and make sure that she is safe," Detective Senior Sergeant Zane Smith said.
"Speculation on social media as to whether she is with Dean Whakatau willingly or not is unhelpful; we won't know the answer to that question until we speak to her directly.
"The fact remains that LA is only 15, her family desperately want her home and police need to make sure she is safe and back with her family as soon as possible.
"We urge LA to make contact with us or with her family.
"If she is with Dean Whakatau we also urge him to drop her outside a police station or in a public place where we can collect her, or have someone else drop her off for him."
Anyone who has seen them together, and who has not yet been spoken to by the investigation team, is asked to come forward.
* If anyone sees LA and Whakatau they are asked to contact police immediately on 111. The public are asked not to try to approach them as this may cause them to flee.
* Anyone with any information about the pair or where they might be are asked to contact Rotorua police on 07 348 0099.
The story so far:
Saturday, August 1: • About 11am: LA Tukerangi's mother and sister receive alarming Facebook messages saying the 15-year-old Aucklander has been kidnapped. Mother Marie Tukerangi calls the police, who launch an investigation. • Afternoon: Marie Tukerangi is told LA was seen in a car outside her boyfriend's Clendon home before the alleged kidnapping.
Sunday, August 2: • Morning: LA and Whakatau are seen in Rotorua, information provided to police indicates. • 1.40pm: Marie Tukerangi issues a cry for help on Facebook, asking the public to help find her daughter.
Monday, August 3: • 11am: Police say they have "grave concerns" for LA, and issue a media release stating there is a warrant out for Whakatau's arrest. • 12pm: A police Facebook post about the alleged kidnapping receives almost 2000 shares and 500 likes. • 2pm: Police say on Facebook Whakatau might be using more than one vehicle. • 8pm: Marie Tukerangi has still not heard good news that Whakatau and LA have been found, and fears for her daughter's life.
