Grace Millane murder: 'Unbearable time' for tragic Grace's family

Detectives confirmed her body had been dumped in bushes near a countryside road on the outskirts of New Zealand’s largest city Auckland. A 26-year-old man will appear in court today charged with Grace’s murder. Detective Inspector Scott Beard said it was an “unbearable time” for the former University of Lincoln student’s family.

Grace’s brother Declan wrote out the lyrics to the song You Are My Sunshine in an emotional tribute to his sister on social media.

He wrote: “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey.

“You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

Grace’s mother, Gillian, posted a picture of them both together on social media.

Her father, David, had flown out to the country on Thursday.

The 22-year-old’s family were “devastated” after being told the police enquiry was a murder investigation.

Forensic officers put up two large tents near where they found Grace’s body yesterday as they searched for clues. They also urged anyone who had seen a red rental car to come forward.

Detectives found the vehicle 186 miles away in Taupo, to the south of Auckland, and believe the alleged killer used it to move the 22-year-old’s body.

The red Toyota Corolla hatchback was hired from a rental firm in Auckland last Sunday, the day after Ms Millane was last seen alive, police said.

Expect Detective Inspector Beard said: “I can now advise that, a short time ago, 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.

“Any father, any parent in this situation, will struggle. We’re putting a lot of support around him. It’s difficult because he’s here with a brother from England and the rest of the family are back home.”

Grace, from Wickford, Essex, was last seen at the CityLife hotel in Auckland with a “male companion” on Saturday, December 1.

She had reportedly met a man on mobile dating site Tinder.

Detectives said they had identified a “location of interest” after the investigation led them to a spot on Scenic Drive, a country road about 12 miles west of the city centre, on Saturday night.

Scenic Drive goes through dense rainforest in the Waitakere Ranges, to the west of Auckland.

The former student was on a round-the-world trip and had been in contact with her family almost every day.

She arrived in New Zealand from Peru on November 20 after spending six weeks in South America.

Relatives began to worry after she failed to respond to birthday wishes sent last Sunday.

She did not return to the Base Backpackers hostel where she had been staying.

Ms Millane was seen on CCTV cameras with her alleged killer at multiple locations in Auckland before last being seen alive at the CityLife hotel.

Officers are understood to have searched a room at the hotel over the weekend.

The spot where police found the backpacker’s body is in the vicinity of the Waitakere Reservoir and dam, a beauty spot with popular hiking trails.

Officers dressed in white overalls were seen leaving the area carrying clear bags.

Large tents were erected on the side of the road and numerous police cars were parked nearby.

Police said Grace’s passport, pale pink Casio Baby-G watch and necklace were among items missing from where she had been staying.

Her distraught father David had given an emotional press conference just days earlier urging anyone with information to come forward.

He had said: “We are all extremely upset and it’s very difficult at this time to fully describe the range of emotions we are going through.

“Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving and family orientated daughter.

“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to anybody who has seen, spoken to, come into contact with Grace over the last few days to come forward with any detail, no matter how small.”

The University of Lincoln said in a statement: “People across our university community are deeply saddened to hear the terrible news coming from New Zealand about Grace Millane, one of our recent graduates.

“Our thoughts and sincere sympathies go to Grace’s friends and family.”