Police delay linking body discovery to Marice case

Helicopter winches corpse from ravine, but officers say they can't confirm it is the missing 45-year-old

Police looking for Marice McGregor have recovered a body found down a ravine in dense bush but have yet to confirm it is the missing Wanganui woman.

The body was recovered yesterday afternoon with a helicopter and a winch after being found in a deep ravine off State Highway 4 about 5pm on Wednesday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gwynne Pennell said when the discovery was made daylight was starting to fade and steps were taken to secure the scene overnight.

"I know you are all keen to know whether this discovery fits in with the investigation into the disappearance of Marice McGregor but I am not yet in a position to answer this," Ms Pennell said yesterday.

"The discovery may be linked, but we have a very methodical way of working through the investigation and we are not in a position to provide a positive identification of the body.

"The terrain is particularly difficult and challenging with very steep inclines, dense bush and we could be in the scene for some days."

Ms McGregor's family had been told of the find and had asked for privacy.

"In respect of Marice's family I hope you appreciate that it is a very difficult for them while they wait for news.

She said it was important that the discovery did not diminish the help police needed from the public about Ms McGregor's disappearance.

"We are extremely grateful for the assistance the public has given us and we still need to capture any information that is out there.

"We still particularly need sightings of any vehicles along State Highway 4 on or around April 19 that may be relevant to the disappearance of Marice," Ms Pennell said.

Earlier yesterday it was reported that Ms McGregor's family had a gut feeling that a man she was in an internet relationship with could be involved in her disappearance.

Police said they had identified several people of interest relating to the 45-year-old's disappearance, but did not have a primesuspect.

Sarah McLachlan, partner of Ms McGregor's brother Garth, said yesterday the family did not know a lot about Ms McGregor's internet relationship, but believed the man was the foremost suspect.

Garth McGregor said the family was resigned to searching for his sister's body.

"We were realistic that she might be dead almost from the word go," he said.

Central Districts police communications manager Kim Perks said Ms McGregor's email and internet activity had been examined.

Police said the discovery of a lanyard cord belonging to Ms McGregor indicated she had got into a vehicle.

The lanyard, which she used to carry her cellphone, still had her keys and a small soft toy bear attached.

It was found by a university lecturer and students collecting stream insect samples by a culvert south of Otoko Pa, about 26km north of Lismore Forest where Ms McGregor was last seen collecting pine cones and her abandoned car was found.

Police were still looking for her cellphone, which was last activated in Feilding the day after she vanished.

Ms McGregor was last seen as she drove her red Suzuki Escudo on State Highway 4, the Parapara Highway, about 40km north of Wanganui, on April 19, although her disappearance was not reported for a week after that.

Police believe Ms McGregor got into a vehicle at some point on April 19.

They are seeking sightings of a green and silver Mitsubishi people-mover on April 19 and 20.

- NZPA