Police say that a body discovered in an ice-covered Markham pond belongs to Taneesha Brown, a 25-year-old woman who went missing earlier this month.
The body was found Saturday afternoon in a pond near Bur Oak Secondary School in Markham, in the area of Edward Jeffreys Avenue and Markham Road.
A coroner positively identified Brown’s body hours later, a duty inspector with York Regional Police confirmed to CTV.
Brown’s brother says he’s torn by the news.
“I’m just relieved I have an answer, I’m filled with sadness and I just can’t believe that this happened,” Tristan Mazerolle told CP24.
He added that his mother is in shock following the devastating discovery.
“I don’t think any parent should ever have to go through this with their child,” he said.
Police say they can’t pinpoint how the body ended up beneath the ice.
“I don’t know. We have no suspect information here. All we are doing is following the leads we have,” Supt. Fred Moffatt said at an afternoon news conference.
Brown, 25, was last seen at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 12, in the area of McCowan Road and Castlemore Avenue after leaving her aunt’s home. She told family that she was headed outdoors for some fresh air.
Police believe that Brown then walked to Bur Oak Secondary School and spoke with a man, who later described the interaction to police. The man told police that Brown said she was “starting on a journey” before walking away.
In an effort to locate Brown, police deployed a large-scale ground search involving 25 officers on Saturday. Earlier searches included a helicopter and remote-controlled devices that combed ponds for traces of the missing woman.
Police had also asked local residents to check their backyards and sheds for any signs of Brown. Businesses in Markham were asked to download posters of the missing woman and post them.
Police say the pond where they found Brown was near steep slopes and covered in a thin sheet of ice.
