The 31-year-old was sexually assaulted and killed by Waimate resident Jason Frandi, who picked her up near Cromwell when she was hitchhiking in May last year.
Ms Pytlickova was working in the Cromwell area for a vineyard agency and planned to meet her sister in Cave, near Timaru.
She started hitchhiking alone about 2.30pm on May 26 at the side of State Highway 8 just out of Cromwell, and was picked up from there by Frandi about 5pm.
Text messages sent by Ms Pytlickova to her sister indicated she was not concerned about travelling with Frandi (43), whom she described as a ''character''.
Frandi drove Ms Pytlickova to a remote forestry block near Waimate.
He used severed seatbelt webbing from his vehicle to restrain her, and forced her to walk about 4.5km through the forest in the dark.
Frandi sexually assaulted Ms Pytlickova and cut her neck and throat, severing a major artery. She died as a result. Frandi then took his own life.
About 11am on May 27, members of a school trail bike ride discovered Ms Pytlickova's body in the forest and, subsequently, Frandi's body about 150m away. Police examined the scene and surrounding area, and found Frandi's car hidden among trees.
In his findings, Mr McElrea warned against hitchhiking. He said although police did not have an official policy on hitchhiking, a police visitor safety brochure advised against it.
''For your own safety, hitchhiking or accepting rides from people you don't know is not recommended. If you do decide to hitchhike, police strongly advise you not to travel alone,'' the brochure stated.
Ms Pytlickova had previously hitchhiked in New Zealand, Mr McElrea said.
In 1999, a complaint of indecent assault was made against Frandi by a 5-year-old girl, but police did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute.
The following year, Frandi abducted a 19-year-old girl from a street in Oamaru by pushing her into the back seat of his car.
She fought with him and escaped, after which Frandi was arrested. He admitted to police he intended to rape the teenager.
''He said in an interview that he had intended to take her to a forestry location, have some fun with her, then take his own life,'' Mr McElrea said.
Frandi spent almost two years in jail for the abduction, then in 2005 and 2006 he faced assault, cannabis cultivation and driving charges. In May last year, police were investigating an allegation that Frandi abused a young girl.
On May 26, about 11am, Frandi learned of the investigation when he was confronted by the girl's father in a Waimate store.
When police learned of the incident, they tried to locate Frandi, but found his house empty and his car gone.
He drove 220km to Cromwell, for no apparent reason.
Mr McElrea said when police started searching for Frandi in the afternoon of May 26 they could have alerted all Canterbury and Otago officers to look out for him and his car, but it was highly unlikely those steps would have changed the outcome.
''The response from all police members was entirely appropriate and timely,'' Mr McElrea said.
