INFORMATION is still being sought from the public about the mysterious disappearance of a man in 2004.
Jim Donnelly, of Dannemora, was last seen on the morning of June 21 at the Glenbrook steel mill in Waiuku where he worked in quality control.
Police later found his helmet, contents of his wallet and his keys inside a vat used for processing steel. But the 43-year-old has never been found, and his wife Tracey and her family are still asking what happened to him.
Senior sergeant Dave Glossop, of Howick police station, has been working on the case for the past 18 months since he inherited it when he was a relieving detective sergeant covering Pukekohe and Papakura.
Contrary to some weekend publicity, Mr Glossop insists “the case has never been closed”.
“Every now and then we look at it. It will never go away until it has been solved.”
The case followed Mr Glossop when he moved back to the Howick police team and, because he had read the file, “which was a huge undertaking”, he was asked to carry on with it.
“We have had no breakthroughs,” he told the Times.
“It’s a case of constantly reviewing what can be done, especially in view of modern technology such as DNA testing.
An independent psychologist will also be consulted to see if light can be shed on Mr Donnelly’s behaviour in the days before he went missing, and Mr Glossop says key witnesses need to be re-interviewed to see if anything new has come up.
While Mr Donnelly’s wife lives in Howick, Mr Glossop says “the mystery remains at the mill”.
“It has weird and wonderful aspects. Nothing makes sense, which is why I was not too reluctant to take the case with me.
“I’m hoping for phone calls from members of the public that may lead us down a track which points us in the right direction.
“This is not a unique situation and I’ll put as much time into it as
I can. If we get a major lead, then we will get a team together and evaluate the potential outcome.”
• Anyone who can help the investigation should contact Mr Glossop at Howick police station on (09) 538-0349.
