Human remains found in search for Ontario woman police say was kidnapped

York Regional Police say they’ve found human remains while searching for an Ontario woman who was kidnapped last week.

In an update Wednesday, the force said it had found the remains in Kirkfield, a village in the Kawartha Lakes, on Monday while searching for Ying Zhang.

Const. James Dickson told reporters Wednesday police investigators are awaiting positive identification from the Office of the Chief Coroner. He said while the investigation is ongoing, police have stopped their search.

Dickson said the remains were found next to the roadway, and a green bin police were looking for was also found.

Zhang was last seen on July 25 at roughly 10:40 a.m. in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham.

On Monday, York Regional Police police were on scene at the HoliBalance Wellness Centre inside the Chelsea Square commercial plaza looking for evidence about her disappearance.

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A lawyer who works in the building told Global News Monday they heard screaming coming from the wellness centre on Thursday.

2:06 Investigation into missing Markham woman leads police to Kirkfield in Kawartha Lakes

Zhang’s family reported the 57-year-old woman as missing after she failed to return home from her work last Thursday. According to investigators, Zhang was last seen at the wellness centre.

“This is out of character for her and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are being treated as suspicious,” YRP wrote in a news release.

In an update Monday, police said they charged Changlin Yang, 26, of East Gwillimbury with kidnapping, forcible confinement and aggravated assault. Dickson said it is possible charges could be upgraded depending on what the investigation finds.

He said officers are still investigating whether the two knew each other.

Police were searching the area after receiving information that a white Ford van, which was seen near the time of Zhang’s disappearance, was spotted in Kirkfield. Police had also been looking for a green bin that was near the van at the time she vanished.

2:35 Kidnapping charges laid in search for missing Ontario woman

Police said Zhang is 5’7″ with a medium build and straight, shoulder-length, black and grey hair.

She was last seen wearing blue scrubs and a jade bracelet on her left hand.

— with files from Catherine McDonald