Man found in submerged Waikato River car identified as Michael Murdoch

Tuesday 24 June 2025 · 4 outlets · 4 reports · updated Wed 25 Jun 2025, 8:20am

Police have formally identified a man found dead in a submerged car in the Waikato River last year as 44-year-old Michael Murdoch. The Ngāruawāhia man had been missing since September 2019. Identification was described as a complex and prolonged process due to how long the body had been in the water.

How they headlined it

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Tue 4:19pm5:12pmWed 8:20am

1. StuffTue 24 Jun 2025, 4:19pm

   Police identify man found deceased in car in Waikato River (opens in new tab)

   Also on Waikato Times (opens in new tab)

2. RNZTue 24 Jun 2025, 4:46pm

   Man found dead in car in Waikato River had been missing since 2019 (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldTue 24 Jun 2025, 5:12pm

   Body in Waikato River identified as missing man Michael Murdoch (opens in new tab)

4. Waikato TimesWed 25 Jun 2025, 8:20am

   Five years missing: Michael Murdoch found in Waikato River (opens in new tab)