The Lake Hāwea community is "shocked" after a homicide investigation was launched eight months after an Invercargill woman was found deceased in the town.
60-year-old Karen Gaylene White (nee Crossan) died in a property in Lake Hāwea in early March.
Detective Senior Sergeant Regan Boucher, of Otago Lakes Central Police, said a team of investigators was "working tirelessly" to determine what happened and requested privacy for the woman's family as the investigation continued.
"This is an extremely traumatic time for a family who have lost a daughter, mother, grandmother, wife and friend and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family," Mr Boucher said.
Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board chairman Simon Telfer said the Lake Hāwea community was "really shocked".
"Karen’s passing was in March and although it was unexplained, there were no thoughts of anything untoward."
He said there was an overflowing of empathy from the community for her family, especially as she was visiting from out of town.
"There are a lot of feelings and thoughts going out to her friends and whānau."
There was a feeling of shock going through the community to have a homicide investigation take place, he said.
"This is an amazing, growing and safe community and for something like this to happen it does send a ripple.
"There is shock that it happened, and shock at this delay between the passing and now — it has added a different dimension to people’s thoughts in it."
Police asked anyone who saw anything unusual or suspicious in the Lake Hāwea area during late February or early March to call 105 and quote reference number 240308/6198.
