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Third death in three months at Auckland boarding house

Author
NZ Herald Staff,
Publish Date
Sat, 2 Jun 2018, 1:48pm
Dryden Lodge in Grey Lynn, Auckland, where three people have died this year. (Photo: NZ Herald)
Dryden Lodge in Grey Lynn, Auckland, where three people have died this year. (Photo: NZ Herald)

Third death in three months at Auckland boarding house

Author
NZ Herald Staff,
Publish Date
Sat, 2 Jun 2018, 1:48pm

A person has died suddenly today at an Auckland boarding house where two people were found dead just three months ago.

The boarding house is Dryden Lodge in the suburb of Grey Lynn.

It is where Auckland woman Tania Ellwood, 39, and a man who was known to her, Timothy Kerr Hamilton, 36, were found dead in March.

Dryden Lodge operates as a halfway house for many tenants with drug and alcohol problems.

Emergency services were called to the boarding house this morning.

The police said it appeared to be a case of suspected suicide.

The owner of Dryden Lodge, Ron Lapread, said he had no information about today's death.

"I was just called and asked to come by the lodge. I'm sure the people at the lodge are really shook up."

The bodies of Ellwood and Hamilton were discovered by a maintenance worker in March.

The police, who said at the time they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the matter, conducted an investigation for the coroner.

A source told the Herald Hamilton had "quite a few convictions".

In 2007, he was convicted of rape in the Waitakere District Court and sentenced to five years in prison.

There is no suggestion his previous offending is connected to what happened at Dryden Lodge.

He was the son of Kiwi soul singer Josie Rika. Ellwood had been a fashion and beauty editor.


WHERE TO GET HELP:

If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.

OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:

• LIFELINE: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
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• DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757​

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