A homicide investigation has been launched after a body found at a home in the Western Bay of Plenty on Tuesday was confirmed as missing man Harley Shrimpton.
The Tauranga man, 28, had been missing since November 3. He was reported missing on November 17.
He was last seen in the car park of McDonald's Mt Maunganui on November 3, getting into a blue Toyota Prius that had been stolen from the suburb of Bellevue the day before. It has since been recovered by police.
A 21-year-old man appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday charged with the kidnapping of Shrimpton, Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow said in a statement.
He is due to reappear in court later this month.
Shrimpton's body was found after police searched "a number" of homes in the Western Bay of Plenty over the past two weeks.
"The body of a male was located at a Poripori Rd address. We have since confirmed this is Shrimpton," Pilbrow said.
"Clearly, this is devastating news for the family of Shrimpton, who had continued to hold out hope for his safe return since his disappearance.
"Police are working closely with the family as they navigate through this very difficult time."
Police are also continuing to appeal for sightings of a vehicle of interest — the blue Toyota Prius — seen on November 3 in the Tauriko, Omanawa or Poripori Rd areas from early afternoon onwards.
"There will be people who have knowledge of this incident and we are appealing for those persons to come forward to police," he said.
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