Southern Police have launched a homicide inquiry in relation to the death of a 35-year-old dairy worker at a rural address in the community of Elderslie about 10km inland from Oamaru yesterday.
Emergency services were called to an address in Pine Hill Road in rural Elderslie early yesterday morning around 4.30am where a man was found dead inside a house at the address.
He was Justin Conrad McFarlane, a farm worker, of Oamaru.
The alarm had been raised by a fellow dairy worker who had called at the address after he was concerned that Mr McFarlane had not turned up for work.
Police wouldn't comment on the exact circumstances around Mr McFarlane's death except to say that it appeared to have been violent. Mr McFarlane was single and lived at the address by himself.
Police say the investigation is in its early stages and the focus is on establishing the recent movements of Mr McFarlane and the events leading up to his death.
Acting Detective Inspector Colin Blackie said inquiries are being made with people who knew Mr McFarlane such as his family, friends and associates, to determine his recent movements.
Police are calling for assistance from members of the public who might have seen Mr McFarlane's vehicle, which they believe was taken from the Pine Hill Road address around the time of his death.
His 1992 Mitsubishi GTO two-door red sedan car registration number YE4901 was found burnt out at Serpentine Road, Maheno approximately 25 kilometres from the Pine Hill Road address yesterday morning.
"We believe this incident is connected in some way with the circumstances surrounding Mr McFarlane's death and we're keen to hear from anyone who might have seen Mr McFarlane's 1992 Mitsubishi GTO sedan on the road in the vicinity of Serpentine or Pine Hill Road either later on Tuesday night (10 September) or in the early hours of Wednesday morning (11 September)," says Acting Detective Inspector Blackie.
Nearly 40 Police staff are working on the inquiry. Police assisted by ESR are today continuing to undertake a scene examination at the address in Pine Hill Road and have also been examining the scene where Mr McFarlane's vehicle was found.
Mr McFarlane's body is likely to be removed from the address today and a post-mortem is expected to be carried out tomorrow.
His family are being supported by a Police family liaison officer and Victim Support.
Anyone with information about Mr McFarlane's activities over recent days can contact the Operation Steelers inquiry team directly on the Oamaru Police station number (03) 433 1400 or provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Released by Acting Detective Inspector Colin Blackie, Southern Police