A shock new twist in the heartbreaking case of two children found dead in unclaimed bags has emerged as it was revealed their father died of a cancer a year before their mother went missing.
The sickening discovery of the boy and girl, who are thought to be aged between five and 10 when they died four years ago, rocked the world after they were discovered in New Zealand on August 11.
The dumped pair were found after a family purchased the contents of a storage unit and the children were found in two suitcases inside.
New Zealand and South Korean police are now searching for the mother of the children after discovering the father of the duo died from cancer in 2017.
She is currently listed as missing, but it's thought she flew to the Asian country back in 2018 when they children died.
The family who opened the suitcases are not under suspicion.
Detectives have now revealed that up to a year before she flew to South Korea, her husband, the children's father, died from cancer.
The couple, whom police have confirmed were both from South Korea, married in New Zealand.
Police have confirmed they know the identity of the children but haven't released any details due to legal reasons.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua said the coroner issued an interim non-publication order at the request of their family.
He said: "This order suppresses the names of the children and their relatives and evidence that may lead to the identification of the two victims.
"Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the children."
The missing woman, a Korean-born New Zealander, arrived in South Korea in 2018 and there was no record of departure since then, a police officer told Reuters.
Her whereabouts, and whether she had other relatives with her when she arrived in the country, isn't known.
DI Vaaelua added: "New Zealand police had requested confirmation whether the person who might be related to a crime case was in South Korea."
A homicide inquiry was launched in Auckland this month after the remains of the children were found by a family going through the contents of a storage locker they had purchased unseen.
On August 18, Detective Inspector Vaaelua said the children may have been inside the suitcases for between three and four years.
He said police had reasons to believe the children have family in New Zealand that have not yet been identified.
"The investigation team is working very hard to hold accountable the person or persons responsible for the death of these children," Detective Inspector Vaaelua added.
"We've commenced enquiries with overseas agencies. I cannot state any further than that."
Detective Inspector Vaaelua said CCTV would be analysed but admitted police faced a massive challenge after the length of time the bodies had been in storage.
