Body Discovered Of Missing Wairarapa Man
New Zealand Police National News Release
8:27pm 13 July 2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=4120
Wellington and Wairarapa police and LandSAR volunteers late today found the body of a man who has been missing from
Masterton since early February this year.
Senior Sergeant Warwick Burr, Masterton Police, said the body is believed to be that of Trevor Searancke, who was 53
when he went missing following a walk.
Senior Sergeant Burr said a postmortem will be held in the next few days and the body will need to be formally
identified as that of Mr Searancke, a well known local man who had Huntingdon's Disease.
"We have spoken to his family late today. They understand the need for formal identification and are both sad and
relieved if the body is their loved one.
Senior Sergeant Burr said police have made a number of searches over the months into areas where Mr Searancke may have
travelled. Today a combined operation from Wellington and the Wairararapa police SAR and LandSAR volunteers focused on
areas including the Ruamahanga River.
The body was discovered amidst thick blackberry and scrub on a river terrace, about five km east of Carterton.
No further information is available this evening.
ENDS