Body found in search for missing Christchurch father Braydon Hepworth

A body has been found in the investigation into missing Christchurch father Braydon Hepworth, police have confirmed.

“Police have located the body of a person during a search warrant at a residential property on Hereford St, Christchurch, this morning,” a statement said just before 2pm.

“Formal identification procedures are under way, however, we believe this to be missing 21-year-old Braydon Hepworth.

“The death is being treated as unexplained, and a post-mortem will be carried out tomorrow.

“This is a devastating outcome for his family, and our hearts go out to them. We are providing them with support at this extremely difficult time.”

Police said finding Hepworth “involved a number of dedicated police staff and it has been a significant operation”.

“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, there is a small comfort in being able to bring him home,” the statement said.

A scene guard remains in place at the property and police staff will be at the address for a number of days while enquiries continue.

“We can confirm today’s warrant was one of several executed as part of the ongoing effort to locate Braydon,” police said.

“The investigation team is concentrating efforts on confirming Braydon’s movements and we are speaking with a number of people who are assisting our enquiries.

“It is early in the investigation, and it will take time to build a clear picture of what has occurred. Further details will be released proactively when we are in a position to do so.

“We ask that anyone who has knowledge of Braydon’s movements, or who has information that could help the investigation, to please speak with us.”

The 21-year-old was last seen in September and since then, police and his family have been searching for him.

His mother has also made increasingly desperate appeals for information about the missing man on social media.

Earlier today police confirmed the worst fears of Hepworth’s family.

Braydon Hepworth is missing from Christchurch. Photo / NZ Police

Detective Inspector Scott Anderson said a number of search warrants had been executed at properties in Linwood and Edgeware this morning.

“Our inquiries to date suggest Braydon is no longer alive,” he said.

“We know there are people in the community that know what has happened to Braydon and request that they come forward with information.

“Braydon is a father and a son and police are determined to get answers for Braydon’s family. We are continuing to appeal to anyone who may have information in relation to Braydon’s disappearance.

“Any information, no matter how small, could be a piece of the puzzle we need to locate Mr Hepworth.”

Police are today searching a house on Hereford St, Christchurch in relation to Braydon Hepworth's disappearance. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

Anderson said that “at this time” police were “unable to share details on the findings of the search warrants”.

A large police presence is at a Hereford St house this morning, just 100m from where the last search was conducted at a property on the corner of Hereford and England St.

Police have cordoned off the property - a one-bedroom flat connected to a larger house.

A forensic tent was set up and mobile police units have been parked on the street.

The property police are searching is made up of two dwellings. The main three-bedroom house is not thought to be connected to the investigation.

Police are focused on the flat connected to the side of the villa, which has its own driveway.

Photos of the flat police are searching, looking out to Hereford Street. Police have set up a tent at the top of the driveway and forensic experts have arrived at the scene. This photo was taken when the flat was up for rent in 2018. Photo / Supplied

Around midday, a large amount of police forensic equipment, including special lights, was carried into the cordon.

More scene examination experts arrived around the same time.

Hepworth’s mother Char Huntley posted on Facebook this morning after the police announcement

“Please help me get him home,” she said.

“Please speak up. Someone knows something. Remain anonymous if you need - but let me get my son back.

“Searches are underway to give us anything to locate him.

“Our family is broken with not knowing what happened to him.”

The Hereford St, Christchurch house today being looked at closely by police. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

The last confirmed sighting of Hepworth was at a Linwood service station on September 3.

Security footage showed him wearing a Monster Energy-branded beanie with a pair of headphones over the top.

The search for Braydon

Police first appealed for help to find Hepworth on September 23 after he was reported missing.

On Friday, they issued a fresh appeal for information and confirmed they were searching a property in Linwood in connection with his disappearance.

The house is located on the corner of Hereford and England Sts and police said it was believed to be Hepworth’s last known address.

It is understood the house runs as a backpackers of sorts and has several residents of varying lengths of stay.

During the search, police cordoned off the corner property, which has caravans at the back.

Officers stood guard outside while investigators worked

“Staff have made extensive inquiries to date, and Braydon has not been located. We are very concerned for Braydon,” police said in a statement.

“Police continue to appeal for anybody with information regarding Braydon’s whereabouts to please get in contact with us.

“Police and Braydon’s family have serious concerns for his wellbeing, as this is extremely out of character for him.”

Earlier this week police refused to comment on the status of the investigation, including who Hepworth last spoke to or contacted, when he last accessed his bank accounts or used his phone, if he has accessed medication he uses daily, whether they believe the young father has been a victim of foul play, and if so, whether any persons of interest had been identified.

The Linwood house that was searched by police. Photo / Supplied

On Tuesday Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons issued a statement.

“A scene examination at the address believed to be Braydon’s last known address has now been completed,” she said.

“The operation to understand the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remains ongoing.

“Police continue to appeal for anybody with information regarding Braydon’s whereabouts to please get in contact with us.”

Huntley, has been appealing for information on Facebook since September 22.

“Please help me keep looking for my boy … Braydon Hepworth. He’s 21 and Type 1 diabetic. He needs insulin daily to stay alive,” she wrote four days later.

“This is devastating, not knowing where he is, if he is safe, if he needs help but can’t get it, if he is still in Christchurch or has gone further willingly or not.

“He has a 9-month-old daughter and two siblings as well. He’s loved and very missed by many, and we are all concerned for his health and wellbeing. He is not in any trouble; we just need him home.”

Braydon Hepworth was last seen in Christchurch on September 3. Photo / Supplied

Huntley revealed that as of August 4, Hepworth had “a month’s worth” of insulin.

“So we are desperately needing to find him to help him,” she said.

She had called hospitals “all over the South Island” as well as bus, shuttle and ferry companies in case Hepworth was sick, injured or had travelled away from Christchurch.

“Have been in the city where he would frequent and been showing his photo in multiple shops. No luck,” she said.

“Messaged friends and our extended family that know him or he may go to. No luck.

“His phone is off and all social media are non-active and everything is only delivered but not received his end. This is unnaturally out of character for him to not be heard from for this long. I am very scared for his safety, and the not knowing is the worst.”

Police this morning said a scene examination at Braydon Hepworth's last known address has now been completed.

Huntley said she was in a situation “no parent should ever go through”.

“I won’t stop looking until I find him safe … I am heartbroken not knowing where he is,” she updated later in September.

“His health and safety is a serious concern. Someone must know something that will lead to his location. Please help me find him. I love him, and I need him home.”

In her most recent update last week, 27 days after the last confirmed sighting of Hepworth, she begged anyone with information to “please speak up”.

“Remain anonymous if you need, but let me get my son back safe,” she said.

“Our family is broken with the uncertainty of his whereabouts and well-being. We have searched many places, made multiple calls and have no solid leads yet. I’m needing any information leading to his discovery.”

The grandfather of Hepworth’s daughter also posted online urging people to come forward with any information that could help the family.

“Although Braydon is not my biological son, he was in a relationship with our daughter and they have a beautiful 9-month-old daughter together. From the very first day we met Braydon, he called us Mum and Dad, and we called him our son. Over time, we built a very strong bond with him, and he has become an important part of our family,” he wrote.

“I received a message from Braydon on 2 September telling me that he was planning to get his car licence and was also sorting out other appointments. He had been doing so well, which is why everything that has happened over the past few weeks is so concerning and completely out of character for him.

“The search will continue, and we are asking everyone to please keep sharing the missing-person posts and keep an eye out for Braydon.”

Braydon Hepworth missing from Christchurch. Photo / NZ Police

He thanked everyone who had supported Hepworth’s family during “an extremely difficult and stressful time” and helped to search for him and spread the word about his disappearance.

“It truly means more to us than we can put into words,” he said.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for continuing to support Braydon, our family and especially his little daughter during this incredibly difficult time.

“We are desperately hoping and praying that we receive good news soon.”

Over the weekend, he posted a message directly to Hepworth, revealing he had spent “countless hours driving and walking around looking for him”.

“I’m just lost for words, Braydon – please let us know where you are. You’re not in trouble; we all just want you back home,” he wrote.

It is unclear if Hepworth was working at the time he went missing.

In June 2025, he posted on Facebook looking for fulltime work “urgently”.

Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers Christchurch issues and national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence and homicides. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz.