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Joanna Sione-Lauaki’s body was found at remote Ripiro Beach, which stretches for more than 100 kilometres from Maunganui Bluff to Pouto Point.
photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf
Police are still hoping someone can uncover the truth behind a Dargaville woman’s mysterious death on a remote Northland beach.
Joanna Sione-Lauaki, also known as Jo or Jojo, was found dead 10 days ago at Ripiro Beach on the West Coast, north of Dargaville.
She was found by a member of the public about 2pm on August 2 between Omamari and Aranga beaches.
The 38-year-old mother of eight had not returned home the previous night and had gone missing that morning.
Detective Constable Al Simmonds, the officer in charge of the investigation, said her death remains unexplained.
Key information police still want from the public is whether anyone has seen her car and whether anyone was on the usually deserted beach in the days before her death.
Simmonds said her car, a black Mitsubishi Outlander, was parked at the entrance to Omamari Beach at about 7pm on August 1.
He wanted to hear from people who had seen her car in the Omamari Beach car park, or who had come close to her car.
He also wants to hear from people who may have seen anyone on the remote beach between July 31 and the morning of August 2.
Police want to hear from anyone who saw Joanna Sione-Lauaki’s black Mitsubishi Outlander parked at the entrance to Omamari Beach.
photo: Provided by/Police
Meanwhile, her husband of 21 years, Jared Sione-Lauaki, denied having any role in her death.
“I didn’t hurt my wife,” he told The Herald She was given a farewell in Auckland last week.
“I was at home sleeping with my children… the police ruled me out 100 percent as a suspect from the beginning,” he said.
Previously, he said police told him they believed his wife’s death was a homicide, even though police have publicly said the cause of her death was unknown.
Sione-Lauaki said his wife told him she was going to the beach on the evening of August 1.
That evening she sent him a text message with a single word: “HELP”, but the Dargaville dairy worker did not see her message until he woke up the following morning.
He called and texted her several times but got no response, so he left work around 9:30 a.m. and took his daughter to look for a beach.
They focused their search on the area north of Baylys Beach, where she was known to frequent, but did not extend their search north of Omamari Beach.
John Lawkey told The Herald He hopes that people will contact police immediately if they witness any such incidents.
Responding to online speculation about what might have happened, he urged people to “stop believing rumours” and not expect the worst from him just because he is a gang member.
Symonds said anyone who saw her car, or anyone in the Omamari Beach area, between July 31 and the morning of August 2 was asked to call police on the non-emergency number 105 and quote file number 240803/9062.
Photos or videos taken in the area may Uploaded You can also submit information anonymously via Crimeline on 0800 555 111.
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