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Lee McMurdo was found dead at his property in July 2011. - Source: ONE News
This white Mitsubishi car is believed to be linked to the murder of Lee McMurdo. - Source: ONE News -
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A man found dead in Auckland nearly a year ago was thought to have been a low level dealer of bath salts, police revealed today.
Lee Ross McMurdo, 32, was found dead by his 12-year-old daughter on July 29 last year. He was last seen alive at his home address in Helensville on July 26.
The person or people responsible for the death have never been found, and police admitted today they were "baffled" by the case.
"I believe that Mr McMurdo was dealing in the new illicit substance MDVP which is marketed and known as 'bath salts'," Detective Inspector Greg Cramer said.
MDVP is a stimulant and relatively new to New Zealand, but is widely known in some Scandinavian countries and parts of the United States.
"It seems he was seduced by them as a means of escaping a difficult financial situation following the collapse of his business."
Police said they have interviewed more than 3000 people in the past year, with 18 police investigators engaged in day to day enquiries.
Cramer said the circumstances of the murder remain a mystery despite rigorous efforts by police.
Police also appealed for sightings of a White Mitsubishi Mirage with a black bonnet that was stolen from West Auckland early on the morning of July 27.
The car was driven north late on July 31, and it is believed to have hit a cow in the Wellsford area sustaining frontal damage.
"It is believed to be linked to events surrounding Mr McMurdo's death," Cramer said.
Cramer urged people with any other information surrounding the death to come forward.