Human remains found in the Ontario township of Adjala Tosorontio have been confirmed by provincial police as those of a 24-year-old man who went missing in Alliston, Ont., earlier this month.
OPP say a body was found in the area west of Barrie off the 25th Sideroad on Jan. 21. On Friday, they confirmed the deceased was William Schernhammer from Alliston, just west of Barrie.
“I prayed my son William be found. My prayer was answered. I prayed my son William find peace. He now has peace,” Rachelle Schernhammer, the missing man’s mother, wrote in a Facebook post.
Provincial police say the cause of death will not be released as the investigation is ongoing.
Schernhammer was reported missing to OPP officers in Nottawasaga two weeks ago. He was last seen on Jan. 12 at 12:30 a.m. at the corner of Albert Street and Ontario Street in Alliston.
William lived with his girlfriend in Alliston, his mother told Global News. His mom said she learned from the girlfriend that William had said he was going out to get cigarettes with a friend named Gabriel DiCecco and would be right back.
She said after being seen on the security footage at the Pioneer Gas station in Alliston, his friend told them William then asked to be dropped off at the corner of Albert Street and Ontario Street to walk home.
That was the last time he was seen, the Schernhammer family said.
Ontario Provincial Police would not confirm that anyone was charged in connection with William’s death.
Global News has learned from Barrie court house staff that Gabriel DiCecco was charged Jan. 12 with obstructing police, the same day William’s family said he was last seen.
The court also confirmed that on Jan. 22 DiCecco was charged with interfering with a dead body.
OPP would not confirm that DiCecco’s charges are connected with William’s death.
More information will be released as it becomes available.
Anyone with information is asked to call Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.