The Canadian Press
Liam Casey
Peter Goffin
TORONTO–Police have found more human remains near a property where accused serial killer Bruce McArthur worked as a landscaper.
Det. Sgt. Hank Idsinga said the remains were found in a ravine yesterday afternoon and have been sent for testing, but they have not yet been identified.
“Yesterday afternoon, human remains were located at one of the first digging sites,” Idsinga told reporters at a news conference near the ravine today.
Investigators previously had found the remains of seven men hidden in large planters at the home in midtown Toronto in the winter months.
McArthur, 66, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of eight men with ties to Toronto’s gay village–only one man’s remains have not been found.
“We haven’t identified what the remains are or who they belonged to,” Idsinga said, adding the remains could be from those already recovered.
Idsinga said they have searched about 100 properties with links to McArthur’s landscaping business and cadaver dogs found few spots of interest. But after some “minor excavations,” nothing was found.
Several weeks ago, the dogs searched the ravine and found “multiple spots” of interest, he noted.
It took weeks to co-ordinate with the City of Toronto, which is responsible for the ravine, to “take environmental issues into consideration.”
“Some trees were cleared to allow access for equipment,” Idsinga said.
Within hours of beginning excavation, police found the human remains.
“We found the remains there very . . . it was a bit of a surprise,” Idsinga admitted.
The remains have been sent to the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service for further examination.
The identification process could involved fingerprints, dental records, or DNA analysis, Idsinga said, which would take “days, weeks, or months.”
He anticipated the excavation will continue for another week.
McArthur’s case is scheduled to return to court on July 23.
