WATCH ABOVE: Police are investigating the disappearance and alleged killing of Shawn Kapadia, but no arrests have yet been made in the case. Catherine McDonald reports.
TORONTO — Ontario Provincial Police have confirmed a body has been found at Short Hills Provincial Park in Niagara Region, but say there’s no evidence to suggest it is connected to the alleged killing of a missing 22-year-old Mississauga man.
Toronto Police Homicide Det. Dave Dickinson said Wednesday that police believe Shawn Kapadia, 22, was killed on July 5 at 7 Foundry Ave., near the intersection of Davenport and Dufferin, in Toronto.
OPP told Global News that a body was found at about 9 a.m. Thursday after being discovered by hikers in the park.
Police said late Thursday that the death is being treated as suspicious, but that the body remains unidentified and the investigation to assist the coroner is ongoing.
OPP said the cause of death remains unknown and an autopsy is scheduled for Friday at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre.
“There is no evidence to connect this death to the ongoing Shawn Kapadia investigation led by Toronto Police Service,” the statement read, adding that Short Hills Provincial Park remains closed to the public until further notice.
READ MORE: Toronto police appealing for witnesses in alleged murder of Mississauga man
Toronto Police Const. Victor Kwong said police are currently in Toronto interviewing witnesses related to the Kapadia investigation.
Kapadia was reported missing by his parents on July 10. He was last seen leaving his home in Mississauga on July 5, driving a 2007 silver Pontiac G6.
Dickinson said police responded to unit 118 of 7 Foundry Ave. on July 12 for an incident that was believed to be unrelated to the disappearance of Kapadia.
Police had initially responded to an “insecure property” at the unit, meaning that it was unlocked, but Dickinson said there was no evidence of a break-and-enter.
He added that the investigation then led police to 50843 O’Reilly’s Rd. S in Wainfleet, Ont., where Kapadia’s car was located with the assistance of Niagara Regional Police.
WATCH: Toronto Police are asking for the public’s help in providing information into an alleged homicide investigation. Police say they believe 22-year-old Shawn Kapadia was murdered on July 5. Catherine McDonald reports.
“Based on evidence collected in Toronto and Wainfleet, it is the belief of investigators that Shawn was murdered at 7 Foundry Avenue in Toronto,” Dickinson said, adding that an extensive search of the area in Wainfleet was conducted.
Dickinson said that on July 11, an older model John Deere backhoe was observed attending the O’Reilly’s address in Wainfleet, before leaving the address on July 12 in the afternoon carrying a large block of concrete in the front bucket.
He added that the backhoe was last seen driving on Broadway Avenue in Welland.
Dickinson also appealed to landowners in the Wainfleet, Welland and Niagara Falls region to check their properties.
He said no arrests have been made but he does “anticipate them in the future,” adding that Kapadia had “an association” to the call at Foundry Avenue where two unidentified people reside.
Anyone who may have seen the backhoe, the silver Pontiac, or who has information, is asked to contact Det. Dickinson at 416-808-7400, extension 77418, or Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
With files from Catherine McDonald and Karyn Lieberman
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