A Czech tourist whose body was found in a remote in a remote South Canterbury forestry block was believed to have fallen victim to a sexual predator whose corpse was found near her.
Police believe the woman is 31-year-old Dagmar Pytlickova, also known as Dasha.
"Formal identification has yet to be completed but we are confident it is Dasha," Detective Inspector Greg Williams said.
The other body found nearby in the forestry area was identified as missing Waimate man Jason Frandi, a 43-year-old convicted sex offender.
Det Insp Williams told media on Tuesday afternoon it was likely Ms Pytlickova had been abducted and driven to a remote area where Mr Frandi attempted to have sex with her and then a struggle followed.
The bodies were found by motorcyclists late on Sunday morning in the Waitaki Valley, about 75km southwest of Timaru, during a charity ride to raise money for Waimate Main School.
Det Insp Williams said Ms Pytlickova had been in New Zealand since January and was recently working at a vineyard in Cromwell.
It's believed she was hitch-hiking from Cromwell to the Timaru area on Saturday when she was picked up by Mr Frandi, somewhere between Omarama and Kurow.
Police want to speak to anyone who gave her a lift that day.
Det Insp Williams said the silver BMW belonging to Mr Frandi has been found, about 3km from where the bodies were discovered.
The area around the car has been cordoned off so a forensic examination of the car can be done.
Det Insp Williams confirmed Mr Frandi was known to police.
He was given a three-and-a-half year prison sentence in 2000 for abduction for sex of a 19-year-old woman.
Post-mortem examinations were being carried out on the bodies on Tuesday.
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