Missing man linked to unexplained death in North Canterbury

Police descended on a derelict North Canterbury property on Monday night after a body was found in a car in "unexplained" circumstances.

The car parked in the garage of the cordoned-off Rangiora property is linked to missing man Richard Leman.

The 41-year-old father of three has been missing since the night of 11 April. His family has been trying to find him, passing on any information to "under-resourced" police.

They said they had "grave concerns" for his safety and mental health.

Police were called to Tyler St about 7.40pm on Monday.

They were going door to door in the area as they search for clues about what happened.

Detectives appeared interested in security cameras mounted on the exterior of the house opposite the Tyler St scene, and on Tuesday morning emerged from the property with hard drives.

A police tent and two spotlights were set up on Durham St with part of the road cordoned off. Armed police were guarding the property.

Police appeared to have removed a section of the property's exterior corrugated iron fence, near the garage.

Two women showed up in tears, hugging as they spoke to police. One could be heard saying "it's my stepdad".

The 41-year-old Leman was last seen at the LilyBrook Shops in Rangiora, a town 30 minutes north of Christchurch. Since that sighting he has not been seen nor contacted family or friends.

Canterbury police did not publish a missing person notice but Leman's family recently posted on Facebook and Givealittle in the hope it would help track him down.

Posting on Givealittle, his sister Nicola Leman said: "He may look rough and tough but he is a big baby at heart."

She said he was a "mummy's boy" who loves his three sons, his parents and wider family.

"Our little brother Richard has the kindest heart, loves his children, loves his family and would do anything to help others. We just want him home," she wrote.

Leman said the family took on the search because police were under-resourced. They were providing any and all information to police, she said.

"We couldn't just sit and do nothing."

The family said they had been following up on possible sightings, putting out flyers and searching daily.

A Givealittle page was published to cover his personal costs, plus search related costs until he is found.

Residents could expect a continued police presence on Tuesday as officers conducted further inquiries, police said.

The house is abandoned. Kāinga Ora confirmed it purchased the property last month with the intention of redeveloping the site. It said there were no plans to tenant the property.

A nearby resident said a young man and a woman knocked on her door about 5pm on Monday and asked if she knew there was a stolen car in the garage of the Tyler St property.

At that stage the garage door was shut.

The woman said she did not think anything of it until several hours later when police and firefighters arrived and forced their way into the garage.

"I thought that must link in [to what the man and woman had said earlier] it was too weird a coincidence."

On Tuesday morning, a car could be seen parked in the garage. The boot appeared to have been wrenched open.

The woman said the rundown "eyesore" property, which had several broken windows, had been vacant for some time.

Another resident described the property as "dodgy" and "suspicious", and wondered if it was a "crack house".

Another resident said firefighters arrived first followed by a large number of police.

About 11pm, officers came to her house asking for a crowbar and a hammer, so they could rip down a section of the Tyler St property to get better access to the garage.

They pulled the fence down, and then erected a tent a short time later.

Various residents told Stuff police were regularly called to neighbouring properties.

This story was first published by Stuff.