The grieving family of Auckland man Denver Chance say he was caring and fun loving and losing him is indescribable, after a man appeared in court this morning charged with his murder.
The 43-year-old's body was found at a property in Kingseat, South Auckland, yesterday afternoon, two weeks after he disappeared after leaving his North Shore home in his car.
Police say they were led to the address in Kingseat as a result of combing through cellphone data and CCTV footage, and the 41-year-old accused was arrested outside a bar in Mount Eden last night.
A man has been charged with murder over Mr Chance’s death. (Source: Other)
Mr Chance's sister, Ginny O'Sullivan, told 1 NEWS hearing she had lost such an amazing brother was the worst day of her life.
"It was the worst day of anyone's life to hear that your big brother who has looked after you your whole life is just not going to be with you anymore and just taken from you. It's indescribable," she said, crying.
"Him and I were so close, so close. He was my protector. He always looked after me no matter what and we always spoke to each other on the phone.
"We caught up at Christmas, with Mum, we all went to Ireland because my husband's Irish. So we had Christmas in Ireland and it was such a special time and I'll hold those memories forever," Ms O'Sullivan said.
Mr Chance's mother, Paula McGregor, said family and friends who knew Denver will all remember him as a person who was caring, loved animals and was engaging.
"He would listen to anybody. It didn't matter who they were, if they needed somebody to talk to, he would listen to them. And he gave them his full attention. That's a special quality," Ms McGregor said.
"Loved a laugh, very fun loving. And if he could help he would help."
Ms McGregor said when Denver set his mind to something, "he went for it, 100 per cent, 200 per cent, he just gave it his all. And he stuck with things until he saw them out".
"I can't describe it, it's not describable," she said of the loss, weeping.
The family thanked police and the public.
"We want to thank everybody for their amazing support. The search for Denver has been incredible, it's been extremely humbling," Ms McGregor said.
The accused man appeared before a community magistrate in the Papakura District Court where he was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody to appear in the High Court in Auckland on March 27.
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