Homicide investigation after teen disappeared in April, gang link suspected

Thursday, 10 August 2023

Detective inspector Callum McNeill speaks to media, four months after the disappearance of Jayden Manfredos-Nair in April.

Police have launched a homicide investigation, dubbed Operation Violin, after a teenager disappeared from west Auckland in April.

Jayden Mamfredos-Nair went missing on April 21 and hasn’t been heard from since.

Speaking at a press conference at Rānui’s Birdwood Park on Thursday, Waitematā CIB Detective Inspector Callum McNeill said police now believed the case was a homicide.

McNeill said after canvassing the area and carrying out search warrants, the evidence gathered has led police to believe he has been killed.

Mamfredos-Nair, who would have turned 20 a few weeks after he went missing, was last seen at Birdwood Park getting into a black ute.

Jayden Mamfredos-Nair disappearance is now being treated as a homicide.

The two people who picked him up have connections to the Head Hunters gang and have so far refused to co-operate with police, McNeill said.

'I want to hold those to account who have murdered him,” he said.

In a short statement, the young man’s family said they were 'distraught' and want him home.

Earlier on Thursday, a family spokesperson for Mamfredo-Nair’s family said they were very concerned for the young man.

”He’s never disappeared like this before and we’re just trying to stay hopeful. Everything has been so up in the air.”

Mamfredos-Nair, reported missing from Massey, was wearing a black and white jacket, navy blue pants, grey running shoes and a black hat.

“Jayden was well known in this community and his family deserve answers. Forget allegiances, the time is now to do the right thing and speak up,” McNeill said on Thursday.