Toronto police have located a seventh set of human remains believed to be linked to alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur – and now they are asking for the public’s help to identify the latest victim.
During a press conference on Monday, investigators released a photo of the man they are calling ‘John Doe’.
The image shows a male with a full beard and mustache, dressed in a gray shirt, lying down with his eyes closed and his mouth partially open.
Police said that the darker-skinned man in the photo was deceased.
Who is ‘John Doe’? Toronto police on Monday announced that they have located the remains of a seventh, unnamed victim (left) in the case of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur (right)
Detective Sgt Hank Idsinga, the lead investigator assigned to the case, stressed that he was releasing the photo to the public as a last resort, having failed to identify the man by all other means.
Idsinga would not comment on how police obtained the photo or where it was taken.
McArthur, a grandfather and former mall Santa Claus, has not been charged with a seventh count of murder related to the unnamed victim’s death.
Idsinga said they showed the picture to members of the gay community but could not identify him.
Many of the other alleged victims have been darker skinned and of South Asian or Middle Eastern descent who frequented the ‘Gay Village’ area of Toronto.
Idsinga said they’ve now found the dismembered remains of at least seven individuals this year in large planters at a home where McArthur did landscaping work and stored objects.
It’s not clear if the remains of the seventh man are of the same man seen in the picture released by police.
He said they realize how difficult it might be for a relative or friend to see the picture and realize the man is deceased.
‘I’ve never done this before,’ he said about releasing the photo.
‘I do it with great hesitation.
‘It is obviously a key piece of evidence that we have that we are releasing, but we feel by releasing it, hopefully we can identify him and close off that area of the investigation.’
Police previously announced they had found the dismembered remains of six individuals this year in large planters at a home where McArthur, 66, did landscaping work and that he used as storage.
McArthur, (left) appeared in court via video link last month where he was charged with killing his former lover Skandaraj ‘Skanda’ Navaratnam, 40, (right)
McArthur was initially charged with the murder of and Andrew Kinsman, 49. Police suspect he had a sexual relationship with him
Selim Esen, 44, (left) is also among the slain men, as is Soroush Marmudi, 50 (right)
McArthur is charged with first-degree murder in the presumed deaths of Majeed Kayhan, 58 (left) and Dean Lisowick, 43 (right)
Investigators have identified three sets of remains so far – 49-year-old Andrew Kinsman, 50-year-old Soroush Mahmudi and 40-year-old Skandaraj Navaratnam.
McArthur is charged with first-degree murder in their deaths, as well as the presumed deaths of 44-year-old Selim Esen; Majeed Kayhan, 58; and Dean Lisowick, either 43 or 44.
Police have said they believe there are more victims.
Dr. Michael Pollanen, Chief Forensic Pathologist for the Province of Ontario, said the causes of death are pending further studies.
Investigators have not yet released complete details, but McArthur is believed to have met his alleged victims in the ‘Gay Village’ area of Toronto and on gay dating apps for older and large men with names such as ‘SilverDaddies’ and ‘Bear411.’
Police are looking at unsolved missing person cases to determine if there are connections to McArthur and are running down tips that have come in from around the world.
McArthur has not entered a plea.His case is due back in court March 14.
Edward Royle, a lawyer for McArthur, has previously declined to comment on the case and didn’t respond to a message seeking comment on Monday.
WHO WERE THE VICTIMS OF TORONTO SERIAL KILLER
Toronto landscaper Bruce McArthur, 66, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of six men. Police fear there may be even more victims yet to be uncovered.
Skandaraj ‘Skanda’ Navaratnam, 40
Reported missing on September 16, 2010.
A refugee from Sri Lanka, he was last seen leaving Zipperz, a now closed gay bar in Toronto.
Friends said McArthur employed and had a sexual relationship with Navaratnam.
Majeed Kayhan, 58
Reported missing on October 25, 2012.
An immigrant from Afghanistan who frequented bars in the Gay Village near Church and Wellesley Streets.
Soroush Marmudi, 50
Reported missing by his family in Scarborough in August 2015.
Marmudi was not known to openly associate with Toronto’s gay scene.
Selim Esen, 44
Last seen April 14, 2017 in the Yonge and Bloor area.
A Turkish native, he frequented the Gay Village area and Kensington Market and often had a small plastic suitcase on wheels similar to a carry-on bag.
His relationship with McArthur is unclear.
Dean Lisowick, 43
A homeless occupant of the shelter system who had not been reported missing.
Police believe he was murdered between May 2016 and July 2017.
Andrew Kinsman, 49
Last seen June 26, 2017 at 71 Winchester Street.
Friends begin posting his image in the area and surrounding neighborhoods soon after he disappeared.
Police believe he had a sexual relationship with McArthur.