Missing woman's body found in eastern Bay of Plenty bush

Monday, 9 November 2020

The body of missing Tauranga woman Rebeka Storey has been found in the bush in the Waioeka Gorge, in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

Storey’s body was discovered by hunters last Monday afternoon. There were no suspicious circumstances involved in her death, police said.

She had told her family she was driving to her sister’s house in Ranfurly on September 5 and planned to camp overnight along the way.

But she never made it – or contacted her family – and police recovered her white Suzuki Swift from a campsite in the gorge, between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne, the following day.

Her body was found ​about four kilometres from the Manganuku campsite.

A police spokeswoman said Storey’s death had now been referred to the coroner.

“​Our thoughts are with Rebeka’s family at this difficult time.

“Police would also like to thank the public for their assistance and concern while the search for Rebeka was underway.”