Body In Bush - Mystery Solved

The remains of a male whose body was discovered in the Waitakere ranges in February 2008 has been identified as that of Mr Lino LEGER. [pronounced - Ledger]

Waitakere Police Investigator Detective Sergeant Roger Small said lengthy enquiries to establish the identity of the former Mt. Roskill man have finally proved successful.

The body was found just a few hundred metres into the bush from Scenic Drive, and less than a kilometre from the Arataki visitor’s centre. An examination of the scene and exhibits coupled with forensic information has lead police to believe that the body has been in situ since 1987-1992.

“Our enquiries reveal no suspicious circumstances surrounding the man’s death. Our appeal to the public for help in identifying the body coupled with forensic evidence recovered has enabled Police to return Mr Leger to his family, and bring closure to a 22 year mystery,” says Detective Sergeant Roger Small.

“Our investigation process has included assistance from Forensic Dentist, Dr Craig Campbell, the national data base of missing persons, a facial reconstruction done by Auckland based Cardiologist Dr Jonathan Christiansen, numerous nominations from the public, strong media input, pathologist Dr Timothy Kolemeyer's findings, DNA evidence from the Environment of Scientific Research, and a process of elimination and patience.”

“Ultimately the identification was as a result of the hard work by all involved and this makes three out of three for Dr Christiansen and his facial reconstructions,” he said.

It has been established that Mr Leger went missing in late 1987 and had not been heard from since. After much media coverage and in particular the images depicted on the 20/20 programme in June 2009 of the facial reconstruction, a flurry of friends and family then contacted Police stating they recognised Mr Leger immediately.

“Ironically Police were at that stage in the process of obtaining DNA from Mr Leger's family in the hope of achieving an identification. I’m immensely satisfied that this missing persons file has achieved final closure,” said Detective Sergeant Small.

Television New Zealand’s Current Affairs programme 20/20 last night profiled these identity developments in the police investigation which started on 25 February 2008 when four pig hunters discovered a body in the Waitakere ranges.