Wheelie bin may hold clue to murder

Photos / Supplied

Police investigating the murder of Auckland woman Carmen Thomas say a missing recycling bin from her Remuera home could be a vital clue in the search for her body.

At the weekend police revealed for the first time that they believe the 32-year-old escort, who has been missing since June 27, has been murdered.

"More than two weeks ago we acknowledged that the investigation into her disappearance was looking increasingly sinister," said Detective Inspector Mark Benefield in a press release put out today.

"In light of everything I now know, I can confirm that we are investigating a homicide rather than a missing person situation."

Mr Benefield said if anyone knew where the blue-lidded 240-litre Auckland City Council wheelie bin was they should contact police. The bin's serial number is 014 172.

"We don't know when it went missing and we won't know until we find it whether it's of significance to our investigation," said Mr Benefield, "but we'd very much like to locate it so that we can make our own determinations as to its importance or otherwise."

A Herald reporter saw a wheelie bin at the Ngapuhi Road house on July 16, but police say they do not know exactly when it disappeared.

Mr Benefield said it was distressing for the investigation team to have to tell Carmen's family that police believe she's been killed, but staff are firmly committed to finding her and bringing whoever is responsible for her death and disposal to account.

As well as the location of the missing bin, Mr Benefield said police were keen to know who drove Carmen's car to Hamilton, which they believe was abandoned in Dyer Street on the night of July 7. "If anyone recalls seeing it being driven any time between June 28 and July 8 and can provide us with information about who was in it, they should contact us.

"In addition to blood in her car, there is other forensic evidence we're aware of that I'm not at liberty to elaborate on now but, suffice to say, we are convinced that Carmen was killed and we want to know who did it and when."

- NZHERALD STAFF