Police in Norway are facing challenges locating a freezer on the seabed of Sagfjorden in Hamarøy, originally discovered in April near a salmon farming facility.
The freezer was scheduled to be retrieved on Thursday as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Stian Hole, who has been missing since June 2023. However, its precise location remains unclear.
Despite having coordinates and a map created by the company that initially found the freezer, police admit they have “never known exactly where it was,” according to Hans Kristian Grunnvoll, head of the Innhavet police station, as reported by NRK. The freezer was spotted at a depth of 250 meters but appears to have shifted or been displaced since its discovery.
The police are using an underwater drone operated by Seløy, a specialized company assisting with the search. The team has scanned an area of 200 by 200 meters, but the freezer remains elusive. Police are now considering alternative methods to locate it.
“We are committed to overturning every stone to ensure the case is resolved,” said Grunnvoll, adding that the retrieval of the freezer is critical for the community’s trust and the family’s closure.
Although police stress that there is no direct evidence linking the freezer to Hole’s disappearance, its proximity to the area where Hole was last seen has raised questions. Three individuals, including Hole’s former girlfriend, are facing charges in the case, but Hole himself has not been found.
Stian’s brother, Morten Hole, expressed skepticism about the freezer’s relevance but welcomed the renewed attention to the case, noting it might generate new leads. “I don’t think the freezer is connected to Stian, but there’s so much discussion about it now that it needs to be addressed,” he told NRK.
The freezer discovery has added complexity to an already exhaustive search operation. Since Hole’s disappearance, authorities have conducted one of the largest searches in Nordland, including the use of dogs drones, and the Norwegian Home Guard. Despite these efforts, no definitive evidence has been uncovered.
“The Norwegian Defense Forces will bring a coastguard boat here early this evening, and will search for a few hours into the evening. Then the police will make up the status tomorrow morning for the way forward,” Grunnvoll told VG.
Later, the Nordland police district clarified that it was a ship from the Norwegian Navy, not the Coast Guard.
Police are expected to continue their efforts into Thursday, with plans to extend the operation if necessary. Seløy estimates it will take six hours to retrieve the freezer once located. Further updates are anticipated as the search progresses.
