Callers name killer in 28-year-old murder mystery

1.00pm

Nearly three decades after a west Auckland teenager was strangled, several callers to a police hotline have named the person they believe is her killer.

The body of Tracey Ann Patient was found in dense bush in Henderson, west Auckland, on January 29, 1976, the day after she disappeared as she walked home.

She had been strangled with pantyhose tightened around her neck with a stick. The pantyhose was not hers and there was no evidence of sexual attack.

Her killer was never found but earlier this week after the case was again aired in the media, police were inundated with calls and emails, several of them naming the person they believed to be the killer, said Detective Sergeant Murray Free.

He said the callers had told police much of the information they were now providing, was not given to the original police inquiry team.

"It has always worried them. We have had in excess of 80 people call and in amongst that mix I am sure there is going to be material that is new and has to be followed through and there is information that is more details than was given the first time."

Mr Free said people had been calling from all over the country with their suspicions about individuals.

He said it was too soon to say if the information would lead to an arrest and the material would have to be compared with information on the original file.

He would not comment on the potential for a fresh DNA analysis which could identify a killer.

Witnesses had previously told police they saw the blonde teenager in a car driven by a man but different makes of car were suggested and the car or driver was never found.

However, an anonymous call led police to an Avondale rubbish bin where a distinctive ring Tracey was wearing was found nearly two years after her murder.

- NZPA