Tuesday, 24 June 2025 - 3:43pm |
Waikato

Police formally identify man found deceased in Waikato River

1 min read

Police have formally identified a man located deceased in a car in the Waikato River last year.

He was Michael Murdoch, aged 44, from Ng¨¡ruaw¨¡hia, who had been missing since September 2019.

Michael¡¯s body was found in his car in the Waikato River on 13 August 2024, by a company which removes wrecked cars and other hazardous materials from the river.

Formally identifying Michael was a complex and lengthy process, due to having been in the river for a significant period of time.

Michael¡¯s death is being treated as unexplained and has been referred to the Coroner.

Note for media: Michael¡¯s family has requested privacy and do not wish to be contacted by media outlets.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.?