By 3 News online staff
Police investigating one of New Zealand’s highest profile cold case murders have undertaken excavations at an Eastern Bay of Plenty property, but found nothing.
Bay of Plenty Police Field Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Mark Loper told 3 News concrete cutters had been brought in to the home of a former law enforcement officer around 8:30 this morning, after radar equipment last year identified suspicious readings beneath slabs buried under the floor of the property. However the exploratory excavation has not uncovered any items of interest at the house.
"Today's operation has involved excavating to a depth of approximately 80 centimetres, followed by probing with rods a further 80 centimetres,” Mr Loper said.
“This work has not uncovered any item of interest and police and workers will shortly leave the property."
The homeowner has since died, but 3 News understands he was questioned briefly by police after Mona Blades disappearance in the mid-1970s.
Ms Blades went missing on May 31, 1975, while hitchhiking from Hamilton to Hastings. She was last seen in the back seat of an orange Datsun station wagon. It is understood the occupant of the house in question drove an orange station wagon.
The search was conducted under police supervision.
Mr Loper says an unsolved murder case is never closed and that Police continue to do their best for victims of crime, regardless of the age of the case.
"Files like this always remain open waiting for new information or a situation to change, and we regularly review 'cold cases' in a renewed effort to try and solve them. The recent arrest of a Rotorua man in connection with the 32-year old murder of Rodney Tahu in Turangi is another example of that."
Mr Loper says the property under investigation in Kawerau was purchased by the current owners last year. Permission has been granted by them to undertake the exploratory work.
Anyone with information about any historic homicide is encouraged to come forward to police.
"Relationships and allegiances change over time, and sometimes people just want to get things off their chest. If you have any information about any homicide, especially information not previously disclosed to Police, please come forward with what you know."
3 News