The Swedish backpacker murders

[Steve_uk]

This is the very sad case of two Swedish backpackers who were murdered on holiday in New Zealand in April 1989. I'll let the videos speak for themselves for now, though suffice to say this case could be as simple or as complicated as the viewer wishes to make it.

Part 1: https://youtu.be/7uKLLo-gsKk

Part 2: https://youtu.be/gZ_uC-GdzCI

Part 3: https://youtu.be/ATwvEK3omzM

Part 4: https://youtu.be/HiqbBwU5mSE

Part 5: https://youtu.be/v3o3agY0QXc

Part 6: https://youtu.be/VkCxxkwThFc

Part 7: https://youtu.be/19Ux9yoLvSg

Part 8: https://youtu.be/QPbYDnW0DCE

Part 9: https://youtu.be/TpWeIJDjGts

[handymanz]

I never really paid much attention to this case. I always thought it was a slam dunk for Tamihere to be guilty.
But I now have my doubts when I read an article about Huia George Foley.
I think given the logistics of the case, it's more likely to be Foley than Tamihere.

 

Rotorua man Huia George Foley had escaped from a
mental health institution and was living in Waihi, Coromandel
in 1989. When he attempted to attack a priest, after being
denied his request to take money from the donation tray, he fled
into the Coromandel bush and ended up near Whangamata,
close to where Urban’s body was found. Foley was described as
looking quite similar to David Tamihere. Bill Davis, who had
TRUE CRIME NEW ZEALAND
114.
known Foley since he was at school with his own kids, said that
weeks later Foley reappeared from the bush. He wandered up to
his house in Whitianga carrying a green army surplus sleeping
bag, “He was quite a bit agitated, quite agitated. He had mood
swings. He looked like David Tamihere. If you stood them 15
metres away you’d think they were related. If you got a photo of
Huia and put them side by side, they’d look familiar.” He
continued, saying that Foley then threatened their son with a
baseball bat and stole his car, “

https://truecrimenewzealandcom.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/true-crime-new-zealand-the-cases-volume-i.pdf

[Steve_uk]

I never really paid much attention to this case. I always thought it was a slam dunk for Tamihere to be guilty.
But I now have my doubts when I read an article about Huia George Foley.
I think given the logistics of the case, it's more likely to be Foley than Tamihere.

 https://truecrimenewzealandcom.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/true-crime-new-zealand-the-cases-volume-i.pdf

Thank you for your post handyman and the post on the Scott Watson thread. One gripe I have with the Bryan Bruce videos on the case is that British viewers may not be familiar with the geographical locations pertinent to the crimes: Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, the Parakiwai Valley. I wish it had been made more explicit. Two things I am definitely unhappy about: the testimonies of Secret Witnesses A,B, and C respectively and the lack of blood in the Toyota Subaru.

There's a podcast on the case here, which you may have heard before: https://truecrimenz.com/2019/07/07/case-2-urban-hoglin-and-heidi-paakkonen-investigation/

[handymanz]

Thanks for that. Another strand to the case I never knew.

Police soon issued a public statement urging this couple to come forward. Many more residents came forward with possible sightings including Graham Manning, the store owner of the local Four Square “They asked me where the Tararu Creek was and how to get there. I told them they should be going into the Kauaeranga Valley. They said it would be easier to get a ride in from there, than going the other way”. This implied the Swedes may have been hitched their way back to Tararu Creek Road. Opening more possible scenarios of what happened to the young couple.

The car possibly being stolen by Tamihere whilst the Swedes were hitching back.

If they accepted a lift from Foley, getting to Whangamata (where Hoglin's body was found) would have involved a huge detour, having to loop around the Coromandel. Although there is a dirt road that cuts across the Coromandel West to East.
Once on this road the Swedes wouldn't have a clue where they were, and it's possible they could have ended up hinterland back of Whangamata.

Who knows it may have been neither Foley or Tamihere.

I'm puzzled about the car keys being in the glove box.
If only one key how would the Swedes expect to get back in the car. Unless another key was cut, not very expensive for the convenience of having a spare, & making the car easier to sell. Also some cars have seperate keys for ignition and doors.

[Steve_uk]

Thanks for that. Another strand to the case I never knew.

The car possibly being stolen by Tamihere whilst the Swedes were hitching back.

If they accepted a lift from Foley, getting to Whangamata (where Hoglin's body was found) would have involved a huge detour, having to loop around the Coromandel. Although there is a dirt road that cuts across the Coromandel West to East.
Once on this road the Swedes wouldn't have a clue where they were, and it's possible they could have ended up hinterland back of Whangamata.

Who knows it may have been neither Foley or Tamihere.

I'm puzzled about the car keys being in the glove box.
If only one key how would the Swedes expect to get back in the car. Unless another key was cut, not very expensive for the convenience of having a spare, & making the car easier to sell. Also some cars have seperate keys for ignition and doors.

I thought most cars came with two keys? What do you make of no blood in the car yet the body of Urban found 70km away from where he was last sighted? Do you think Heidi's body is nearby but as yet undiscovered?

[handymanz]

I thought most cars came with two keys? What do you make of no blood in the car yet the body of Urban found 70km away from where he was last sighted? Do you think Heidi's body is nearby but as yet undiscovered?

2 keys as in 2 for the ignition, or one for the doors & one for the ignition? I've always bought old cars offen with the one key, other key broken or lost.

Heidi's body could be anywhere. The low life(s)that commited this crime would have wanted Urban out of the way first, so they could have their depraved way with her.

With Urban's skeletal remains being together, probably discounts wild pigs devouring and scattering the body parts. It's possible this is what happened to Heidi's body.

The fact that Urban's body was 70ks away with no traces of blood in the car would discount Tamihere driving it the 70ks.
Plus he would have taken Urban's watch.
Also while he's transporting Urban's body where is Heidi. Is her body also in the car ? Which would require to differing drop off points.

In one of those videos you posted, there were 2 sightings of the Swedes further up (north) in the Coromandel. Need to match the dates of those sightings with the date Tamihere stole the car.
This would also bring into question wether the Swedes were abducted, hitch hiking back to their car if these sightings were later.

[Steve_uk]

2 keys as in 2 for the ignition, or one for the doors & one for the ignition? I've always bought old cars offen with the one key, other key broken or lost.

Heidi's body could be anywhere. The low life(s)that commited this crime would have wanted Urban out of the way first, so they could have their depraved way with her.

With Urban's skeletal remains being together, probably discounts wild pigs devouring and scattering the body parts. It's possible this is what happened to Heidi's body.

The fact that Urban's body was 70ks away with no traces of blood in the car would discount Tamihere driving it the 70ks.
Plus he would have taken Urban's watch.
Also while he's transporting Urban's body where is Heidi. Is her body also in the car ? Which would require to differing drop off points.

In one of those videos you posted, there were 2 sightings of the Swedes further up (north) in the Coromandel. Need to match the dates of those sightings with the date Tamihere stole the car.
This would also bring into question wether the Swedes were abducted, hitch hiking back to their car if these sightings were later.

What do you make of the sighting of the female in the green mackintosh? If it wasn't Heidi why didn't she come forward to eliminate herself from the enquiry? As for Foley, he's a good suspect. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/tourist-murder-suspect-bully

[handymanz]

That youtube video you posted is below. It looks as though the Swedes reached the top of the Coromandel on the 8th April, to then drive down the East coast side (North to South). So how did the Suburu end up back in the Thames area by the 10th when it was stolen by Tamihere?


https://youtu.be/19Ux9yoLvSg?t=180

[handymanz]

Just clicked on your last link and read this.

The emergence of Foley as a suspect also struck Remuera's Viv Wilson, who was convinced she saw Paakkonen while holidaying at Pauanui about the time she disappeared.

She said she saw a white Subaru a few weeks after Easter in 1989 cruising slowly along the street.

"I looked up and here was this panic-stricken girl who was obviously struggling to get the door open."

The way the blonde woman in the back of the car turned to the door with her whole body later convinced Mrs Wilson her hands were bound.

Pauanui isn't far from Whangamata (close to where Urban's body was found) which ties in with my theory of the couple driving down the East side of the Coromandel.

It's possible the couple (Swedes) may have picked up Foley as a hitch hiker on the 8th April.
There is then a 2 day window (10th April when Tamihere stole the car) for the car to end up back near Thames, which wouldn't have been a long drive.

The couple at Crosbies Clearing (the girl wearing the green jacket) the male could have been Foley, and the girl Heidi.
Tamihere stealing the car from Foley whilst he's at Crosbies with Heidi.
But why would Foley want to go to Crosbies Clearing?

[Steve_uk]

Just clicked on your last link and read this.

Pauanui isn't far from Whangamata (close to where Urban's body was found) which ties in with my theory of the couple driving down the East side of the Coromandel.

It's possible the couple (Swedes) may have picked up Foley as a hitch hiker on the 8th April.
There is then a 2 day window (10th April when Tamihere stole the car) for the car to end up back near Thames, which wouldn't have been a long drive.

The couple at Crosbies Clearing (the girl wearing the green jacket) the male could have been Foley, and the girl Heidi.
Tamihere stealing the car from Foley whilst he's at Crosbies with Heidi.
But why would Foley want to go to Crosbies Clearing?

But wasn't there a note in the tent at Crosbie's Clearing from Pat Kelly, the alias Tamihere had used in the hostel register? The murderer would obviously wish to separate the couple, but I can't understand why Urban is found where he is. How does this fit with the sighting of Heidi in the white Subaru possibly with her hands tied?

I'll have to watch the videos again and see if I can formulate a timeline.

[handymanz]

Just realised the Swedes may have never explored the Thames area, but just continued northwards. Crosbies clearing could be a favorite place of Foley's.

In part 4 of the True crime documentary, the couple at Crosbies Clearing are sighted at 3.12pm on the 8th April.
The timeline is a bit tight given what would have happened to Urban. He could have been killed by Foley who later went back to dispose of the body.
Foley then kills Heidi somewhere in the Bush after camping out at Crosbies clearing.

https://youtu.be/HiqbBwU5mSE?t=66

[Steve_uk]

Just realised the Swedes may have never explored the Thames area, but just continued northwards. Crosbies clearing could be a favorite place of Foley's.

In part 4 of the True crime documentary, the couple at Crosbies Clearing are sighted at 3.12pm on the 8th April.
The timeline is a bit tight given what would have happened to Urban. He could have been killed by Foley who later went back to dispose of the body.
Foley then kills Heidi somewhere in the Bush after camping out at Crosbies clearing.

https://youtu.be/HiqbBwU5mSE?t=66
How far is Crosbie's Clearing to Thames? If it was Tamihere and Heidi where do you think Urban was at this point?

[handymanz]

But wasn't there a note in the tent at Crosbie's Clearing from Pat Kelly, the alias Tamihere had used in the hostel register? The murderer would obviously wish to separate the couple, but I can't understand why Urban is found where he is. How does this fit with the sighting of Heidi in the white Subaru possibly with her hands tied?

I'll have to watch the videos again and see if I can formulate a timeline.

Heidi's sighting with her hands tied in the Suburu was in Pauanui.
Although Urban's body was found further south near Whangamata, it's highly unlikely he was in the car at the time Heidi was sighted in Pauanui.
It's possible that Urban was killed somewhere before Pauanui, and Foley later went back to move and better conceal the body.

How far is Crosbie's Clearing to Thames? If it was Tamihere and Heidi where do you think Urban was at this point?

The couple sighted at Crosbies could have been Heidi & Foley, with Urban already dead.
But why then, didn't Heidi raise the alarm to the two trampers who sighted them?

The distance of Crosbies Clearing to Thames isn't that important.
It's how long it takes to get to Crosbies Clearing from where the Suburu was parked, prior to Tamihere stealing it.

[handymanz]

I've just watched the videos again.
If it wasn't for the sighting of Heidi in Pauanui being trapped in the car, it could still be pinned on Tamihere.

In part 7 it says Urban's body was found only 30ks from the Crosbie Clearing search area.
It's possible Tamihere and the couple could have ventured further into the bush on April 8th.
Tamihere kills them & goes back to the car and drives to the backpackers in Thames.

The Swedes were only a few days from returning home. So they could have been running out of money, hence asking the lady at Stony bay if they could stay in her Bach.
So their plan could have been to just do a loop of the Coromandel and then camp near Thames for a couple of days, before returning to Auckland sell the car and fly home.

[Steve_uk]

Heidi's sighting with her hands tied in the Suburu was in Pauanui.
Although Urban's body was found further south near Whangamata, it's highly unlikely he was in the car at the time Heidi was sighted in Pauanui.
It's possible that Urban was killed somewhere before Pauanui, and Foley later went back to move and better conceal the body.
The couple sighted at Crosbies could have been Heidi & Foley, with Urban already dead.
But why then, didn't Heidi raise the alarm to the two trampers who sighted them?

The distance of Crosbies Clearing to Thames isn't that important.
It's how long it takes to get to Crosbies Clearing from where the Suburu was parked, prior to Tamihere stealing it.

Gosh you are good in the I.T area handyman. It takes me all my time to master Powerpoint. I was wondering why you think Foley let Heidi live in the car and not just kill her with Urban and leave both bodies in situ? As far as the Crosbie's Clearing sighting is concerned I can only think that Urban wasn't dead at that stage, which is why Heidi didn't feel the need to raise the alarm. But I'm still trying to put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together.