Toronto police are investigating the city’s latest homicide after a man’s body was found in a fire pit in a North York Park over the weekend.
The body was discovered in Northwood Park, in the Sheppard Avenue West and Keele Street area, by a passerby at around 10 a.m. on April 9, police said at a news conference on Sunday.
According to police, the body was found in a pit where a fire had recently been burning, and sustained some fire damage.
So far police have been able to determine that the body is that of a man between the ages of 20 and 35. He was Caucasian or light-skinned with short black hair, police said. However his identity has not yet been determined. Police said the victim’s description does not match that of any outstanding missing person.
Det. Sgt. Kevin Leahy told CP24 on Monday that investigators believe the man was burned in an attempt to conceal his identity.
“At this time we are seeking the public’s assistance and asking anyone who may have seen anything in the area of Northwood Park to contact us,” Det. Shannon Dawson told reporters. “If they have seen anything suspicious or an actual fire within the park, we would ask that they contact homicide investigators.”
A resident in the area told CTV Toronto that he believes some of the benches and tables that normally surround the fire pit have been moved since last week.
Dawson said police are interested in speaking with anyone who noticed anything suspicious at the park between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
There are currently no suspects in the case and police are confident that there is no public safety threat.
“I think it is very likely that the victim was an intended target,” Leahy told CP24.
Police are appealing to anyone who might have noticed anything in the park or anyone who has information about the identity of the victim to get in touch with investigators at at 416-808-7400 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
