New Zealand, October 12: The body of a young child has been recovered tonight from a drain at a New Zealand property near where toddler Aisling Symes disappeared a week ago.
Inspector Gary Davey who is heading the investigation said police were speaking to Aisling’s family tonight.
He said the body was recovered in a wooded area in West Auckland at about 8pm local time (6pm AEDT).
“The immediate area has been cordoned off and is being treated as a crime scene,” Inspector Davey told NZPA.
He said it was not known how long the body had been in the drain, nor how it had gotten there.
“I know you have a lot of questions and so do I, he said.
“Over the next few hours and days we will work through those questions.
“The child has not been identified, nor can we confirm what gender it is at this stage.”
Firefighters, using concrete cutters, and police had been excavating for about two hours on the property where the two-year-old was last seen a week ago.
The property adjoins the back of Aisling’s deceased grandparents’ home.
Aisling’s mother Angela reported that her daughter had gone missing from the house while she was distracted fixing a washing machine.
The last confirmed sighting of the child had been last Monday at 5pm (3pm AEDT), in the company of an unknown Asian woman who was walking a dog.
Earlier this evening, a church service was being held for Aisling by the local community.
—Agencies