Few clues in burned-body homicide case

Farm owner Brian Aspin checks out the ashes of a house fire where his missing employee had lived. Picture / Amos Chapple

A body found in a gutted farmhouse and the charred remains of a burned-out car dumped 40km away are all police have to work with as they investigate the disappearance of farm manager Steven George.

Taupo police launched a homicide investigation yesterday, although the body found in the Mokai farmhouse near Atiamuri has not been formally identified.

Mr George, 35, lived alone in the house and has not been seen since it burned to the ground early on Sunday.

A body was found in the ashes, and Mr George's silver Nissan Primera was missing.

A car, its number plates missing, was discovered on Thursday afternoon about 4km north of Mangakino a short way down a remote forestry track, hidden in bush. Police believe it is Mr George's.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant Dave Beattie, said police launched the homicide investigation on the basis the vehicle found was Mr George's.

Farm owner Brian Aspin said Mr George had worked for him for about 18 months, starting as operational manager on the 384ha farm on June 1 last year.

He lived alone in the house. His wife, Leone, and two children, aged about 9 and 11, lived in Te Awamutu.

Leone George told TV3 news last night: "He lived out here by himself so that I could have the children in town so that they could go to do things. Every chance we had we were out here with him because the children missed him, they missed him so much. I'm trying really hard to be strong for everybody."

The body in the house has not been positively identified as Mr George, causing his wife to hold out some hope.

"I'm hoping he'll turn up one day and say, 'Hello, honey, I'm sorry I caused you grief.' But if it's been, if it's something that's gone terribly wrong and he's not going to be with us anymore, then I would love for him to rest in peace and whoever has done this to be brought to justice."

Mr Aspin said Mr George had a good relationship with his wife and children, who stayed at the farm on weekends, and he travelled to Te Awamutu to see them.

Mr Aspin saw him for the last time on Wednesday last week. The pair had just finished milking and Mr George was about to take four rostered days off.

"He just said that's it for the day and if you want any help he's home all weekend."

Mr George visited his wife and children on Friday, and Mr Aspin said he had not seen him over the weekend.

"We got a call from neighbours saying the house was on fire. We all came up, but it was gone. We didn't think anyone was inside because I hadn't seen him all weekend," Mr Aspin said.

He said Mr George was a good worker and could think of no person who would want to harm him.

"He had a good sense of humour and was good with the staff."

Police are trying to identify the body using DNA, after dental records could not prove it was Mr George. Mr Beattie believed it would be about two weeks before the body could be identified.

He said the fact the house and car were gutted made the investigation difficult for police. Officers had finished the scene examination at the house and the car was being taken to secure storage for forensic testing, Mr Beattie said.

He said 16 police were working on the inquiry.