Timeline of Grace Millane who disappeared on December 1st 2018:
Wednesday 5th December – New Zealand police received a missing person’s report.
It was announced to the public on December 6th that a British backpacker was missing. In the report by police it confirmed that 22-year-old Grace Millane was a European woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She was described as approximately 5ft 6 and weighing 58kg. During the first 24 hours of the investigation, officers had put together Graces last known movements, who she was associated with and the circumstances of her disappearance. Grace’s last known sighting was on December 1st on Victoria Street in Auckland.
Detective inspector Scott Beard, from Auckland City Police, said: “This is particularly out of character, especially as it was her 22nd birthday on Sunday.
“We are working closely with her family at this time and a number of police staff are currently working on this matter.”
December 6th – CCTV footage released.
NEW ZEALAND POLICE
At 16.40 New Zealand Police released CCTV images as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Grace Millane. The image was taken at 19.15 on December 1st in Auckland’s Sky City complex. Grace is seen wearing a black dress and white shoes, believed to be Converse shoes.
December 7th – David Millane, father, lands in New Zealand to join the search.
Just after 07.00, Grace’s father lands in New Zealand to join more than 25 officers in the search.
During a press conference at Auckland Police Station David said: “As you all know, Grace has been missing for several days.
“We last had contact with Grace on Saturday the first of December and as a family we have been extremely concerned for her welfare.
“Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-orientated daughter. Grace has never been out of contact for this amount of time and is usually in daily contact with either her mother, myself or her two brothers.
“Grace is on a year-long worldwide overseas experience. Grace started this travel journey in Peru in South America and was really looking forward to the second leg in New Zealand.
“She arrived here on the 20th of November and has bombarded us with numerous photographs and messages of her adventures.
“We are all extremely upset and it is very difficult at this time to fully describe the range of emotions we are all going through.
“While we are very grateful for the media coverage both here and back home, we are finding this situation quite upsetting and would sincerely hope that media continue to respect our privacy.
“Finally, I would just like to take this opportunity to appeal to anybody who has seen, spoken to, or come into contact with Grace over the last few days, to come forward with any detail, no matter how small, and contact the investigation team.”
December 7th – New Zealand police identify a “location of interest” and the last confirmed sighting with a “male companion”.
At 21.41 on December 1st at the Citylife hotel, Grace was seen with a male companion. This is the last sighting of Grace. The man has been investigated and questioned by police, the apartment at the hotel is now a place of interest.
New Zealand Police said: “We are conducting a scene examination at this address. I understand there will be lots of questions about what we are doing at the Citylife and exactly why we are there, however this is an ongoing investigation and I am not able to discuss this aspect further at this point in time”
December 8th – police released a new image of Grace showing a necklace.
Detectives had assessed that belonged to Grace, but several belongings were missing including her passport. Grace’s watch in the picture was a Casio Baby-G and her necklace was described as silver and round with a green stone in the middle. Detective inspector Scott Beard asked for anyone that had seen any items matching those descriptions in the past week to contact them directly.
December 8th – Grace Millane’s disappearance established as a homicide.
Around 15.00 New Zealand police located a 26-year-old man at an Auckland address, he was taken for questioning.
Detective inspector Scott Beard said: “Sadly, the evidence we have gathered to this point of the enquiry has established that this is a homicide.
“Grace’s family have been advised of this development and they are devastated.
“The man is still being spoken to at this point.
“Obviously this means that we are treating Grace’s disappearance as a homicide investigation.
“We still do not know where Grace is. We are determined to find her and return her to her family.
“I know that the thoughts of all New Zealanders will be with Grace’s family tonight and I want to reassure everyone both here and abroad, that NZ Police are determined to do everything we can to find Grace.”
In their final update on the 8th, police announced the man will be charged of the murder of Grace Millane, he told police that Grace was “no longer alive”.
December 9th – a full scene investigation was underway of a bush area on Scenic Drive.
It was announced at 13.33 (New Zealand time) that police had identified a location of interest and a full scene investigation was underway.
Around 16.00, New Zealand police located a body during the scene investigation. Formal identification had not taken place but it was strongly believed to be Grace.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard announced: Since early this morning a scene examination has been underway in a section of bush on Scenic Drive in the Waitakere Ranges.
“This area was identified late last night as a location of interest as a result of our investigative work.
“I can now advise that shortly after 4pm today, we located a body which we believe to be Grace.
“The formal identification process will now take place, however based on the evidence we have gathered over the past few days, we expect that this is Grace.
“Obviously this brings the search for Grace to an end. It is an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them.
“The investigation will continue though for some time yet.
“The focus now is to piece together exactly what happened to a young girl, who came to this country on her OE (overseas experience).
“I would like to thank the investigation team for their long hours of hard work over the past few days.
“We will be pleased to be giving Grace back to her family.”
Photographs were released of a red Toyota Corolla rental car which had been hired by the man the day after Grace was seen alive.
New Zealand Police
December 10th – Police appeal for information of a shovel
New Zealand Police
Police started the search for a shovel that is connected to the murder investigation. Detective Inspector Scott Beard from Auckland City Police said the body was found “intact”. The shovel was an Atlas Trade Hardwood Long Handle Round Mouth Shovel He believed the long-handled shovel could be “anywhere between the Scenic Drive and central Auckland areas.”
December 11th – in a traditional Maori blessing ceremony took place
David Millane, Grace’s father, has flown to New Zealand and visited the place where her body was found. He took part in a traditional Maori blessing ceremony alongside Grace’s uncle and members of the police force.
December 12th – Graces body was formally identified.
Grace’s body has been identified and will be returned to her family in the next few days as they start to organise taking her home. The work will continue to piece together exactly what happened to Grace as police start to build a timeline of events. The shovel has been located as a result of CCTV.
