Warning: This article contains disturbing content.
A man was “intentionally dismembered” before parts of his body were found in Lake Ontario, Toronto police said as they appealed for information in the case.
Toronto police revealed disturbing details Tuesday regarding the investigation, which dates back to October.
At 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 9, a “suspicious event” was reported at Cherry Beach, officers said.
A human thigh was found by near the water’s edge and shortly after, another thigh was found in the water around 150 metres away, police said.
Acting Supt. Kathlin Seremetkovski said a member of the community found the initial thigh, then the second one was found during a search of the area by officers.
Three weeks later, on Oct. 30 at around 3 p.m., the Toronto police Marine Unit was patrolling in the outer Toronto harbour area of Lake Ontario when officers found a human torso in the water, police said.
Investigators said the torso, which was partially wrapped in a black plastic garbage bag, had a small-sized T-shirt on and a necklace.
The rest of the body hasn’t been found.
“An autopsy revealed that the body appears to have been intentionally dismembered,” police said, adding that the person is believed to have died within around 24 to 48 hours of the thighs being discovered on Oct. 9.
“In November 2023, DNA testing confirmed the body parts belong to the same person. Neither the thighs or torso have any distinctive scars, marks or tattoos.”
Det. Sgt. Tiffany Castell from Toronto police’s homicide and missing persons unit said it’s not clear if the torso was placed in the water at the same time as the thighs or if it was done afterwards.
She said the analysis on the torso wasn’t as “clear and definitive” as the thighs.
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Police said a forensic pathologist completed a profile and it’s believed the person was a man, 21 to 28 years old, with a light brown, tan complexion, an “average to lean build” and black body hair.
Police said it’s believed he was five feet six inches, plus or minus 3.5 inches.
Investigators released images of the necklace that was found and appealed to the public for any help in identifying the man.
Seremetkovski said Toronto police’s 51 Division is taking the lead on the investigation but is working closely with the homicide and missing persons unit.
“Both units have been working tirelessly to try and identify who this person is and what actually happened to them,” Seremetkovski said.
She said investigators have conducted “comprehensive searches” of missing persons databases, but none have matched the profile. Investigators have also canvassed for video surveillance and have been in contact with authorities in the United States in case of a connection there, she said.
“That’s why we are here today seeking the public’s assistance in trying to identify who this person is,” Seremetkovski said.
“Someone knows who this individual is. Someone knows what took place.”
Castell said because officers only have parts of the man’s body and they don’t have any distinguishing marks, scars, or tattoos, it’s been especially difficult to identify him.
Castell said at this point, the death is not being treated as a homicide because officers don’t know how the man died.
But the death is being treated “with the highest level of suspicion,” she said.
“We’re treating it as suspicious, and we are looking at it at bare minimum as an indignity to a human body,” Castell said.
She said there are human remains belonging to the man that have not been found.
“What I can say is that there are certainly going to be remains somewhere. Whether or not those remains are in the lake, is to be determined,” Castell said.
Anyone with information can contact police at 416-808-5100 or through a dedicated email tip line at help51@tps.ca. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477.
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