The Toronto Police Service's homicide squad wants help in determining the whereabouts of a missing man whose home contains signs of struggle.
But Det.-Sgt. Dan Sheppard told a Saturday news conference that Chi Ngu Ngo "is a victim in that he's missing, but a victim of a homicide I think is premature."
Chi Ngu Ngo, 47, hasn't been heard from since Wednesday. He was last seen in the Keele-Wilson area in the city's northwest at about 3 a.m.
"He is described as Vietnamese, collar length black hair, slight moustache with a scar above his right eye," police said in a Friday news release.
Ngo has three sons from a now-ended marriage.
Sheppard said Ngo was a quiet man who lived alone and kept to himself at his 2 Brixham Terrace home and wasn't really known to his neighbours.
"It's important that anyone who knows Mr. Ngo come forward and speak to us," the officer said.
Sheppard said his family did keep in touch with Ngo, but didn't give them much information about his life. They went to the house on Thursday and then contacted police.
Ngo "has had contact with the police in the past," he said.
The house where Ngo lives had once been the site of a marijuana grow operation, but Ngo had no history of involvement in that illicit business. There were no signs of active marijuana cultivation when police attended, Sheppard said.
"I'm not going to speculate what happened to Mr. Ngo. I do know there was some type of struggle inside that house," he said, adding it's possible Ngo went to hospital and didn't use his correct name.
There were no signs of a robbery in the home, Sheppard said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7814, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
