Montreal police say the discovery of a man’s body in a recycling bin in the city’s east end Monday morning is now being ruled a homicide.
The body of the man, believed to be in his 50s, was found on Monday morning in a container during the recycling collection in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of the city.
After investigators found “signs of violence” on the body, which has not yet been identified, the case was transferred to the Montreal police’s major crime unit, said police spokeswoman Veronique count
This is the city’s 18th homicide of the year.
Police received a 911 call around 8:50 a.m. after the body was discovered during a pickup at Adam Street and Letourneux Avenue.
Sources told CTV News the call was made by a pickup worker. The body, which had been deposited in the container, was moved to the back of the recycling truck, where it was discovered.
When police arrived, the person was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It’s a lot,” said Danny Tremblay, a resident who lives near the site of the sad discovery.
“A death, next to our house,” he said, with a deep exhale. “I have a child at home.”
Police have not yet identified a suspect. The collection worker who made the discovery works with Matrec, the company contracted to collect recycling in the area.
Richard Memeau, Matrec’s regional director, told CTV News that he had not had a chance to speak with the employee, who had spent most of the day with investigators.
He said he would meet with the employee on Monday to discuss any time off needed and whether he should see a counselor.
With files from CTV Montreal’s Iman Kassam.