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The property in Wainoni, Christchurch - Source: ONE News -
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Police have discovered two bodies beneath a house in the Christchurch suburb of Wainoni and strongly suspect one is missing woman Tisha Lowry.
The discovery follows an investigation that started off five days ago as a missing person inquiry, when a 32-year-old man notified police that his wife had disappeared.
He has now been charged with murder and in the course of investigating the first death, the second body was found.
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald told a media conference on Friday afternoon that the two bodies found under house had taken down through a man hole.
He says it is not possible to identify the bodies but police suspect that one is Lowry who went missing on September 25 last year.
She was last seen by her grandfather as she waved goodbye to him at the Bower Tavern in suburban New Brighton.
Police think she made it home, but have no idea what happened to her afterwards.
They have spoken to more than 3000 people in their search for her.
Fitzgerald says it would be silly not to draw a connection and police have spoken to her family.
"The families are trying to cope with the possibilities at this time," he says.
Lowry is understood to have lived two doors along from the house where the bodies were found.
Fitzgerald made the announcement shortly after the 35-year-old Wainoni man appeared in Christchurch District Court accused of murdering a 35-year-old woman, thought to be his wife.
Police started a missing person inquiry on Sunday after he reported her missing.
He was remanded in custody until September 11 and his name and that of his alleged victim were suppressed.
Duty solicitor Jared Bell told Judge John Bisphan police sought suppression of the names.
Meanwhile, Fitzgerald says the two bodies are still at the scene, under the house and are likely to be for a few days.
Police are as of yet unable to formally identify the two and no causes of death has yet been established.
Neither the arrested man or his wife are known to police.
Police say the neighbourhood has been left stunned and shocked.
Neighbours say the man and his wife had lived in the house on and off for several years.
They say they were quiet and kept to themselves and Fitzgerald says the couple had children.
Fitzgerald says police would like any information about anything that happened at the address on Sunday morning.
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