An elderly man whose body was found in his eastern Bay of Plenty home early yesterday morning received extensive injuries before he died, say police.
John Alan Rowe, 78, was found by a neighbour in the house in which he lived alone at Opotiki early yesterday morning.
Police have released few details about his injuries and said the cause of death had yet to be confirmed. The inquiry was upgraded to a homicide today and more than 30 police from around the Bay of Plenty were assigned to work on the case.
A post mortem began today in Auckland and would conclude tomorrow, said Detective Inspector Rob Jones.
He would not say if police had found a weapon at Mr Rowe's Windsor St home or if Mr Rowe had criminal or drugs connections.
"I am not going to speculate at all.
"He was a 78-year-old who lived alone at his address." Nor would he comment on the injuries which killed Mr Rowe.
"He suffered extensive injuries. That is the best way of describing it," Mr Jones told NZPA.
In a statement he said it was not appropriate to comment further on the nature of those injuries "or what has been found within the scene until preliminary results of a post mortem examination currently being carried out in Auckland are determined."
He said police were appealing to anyone near Windsor, Richard, Ford or St John streets on Monday night who may have seen anything suspicious to call them urgently at the Opotiki police (07) 315 1110 between 8am and 4pm or any time at the Whakatane police on (07) 308 5255.
