Toronto police have released a sketch of a girl whose body was found in a trash can in a high-end neighborhood a month ago.
Police also released a photo of a vehicle of interest, described as a dark Porsche Cayenne SUV, between 2011 and 2014, according to a press release.
Insp. Hank Idsinga told reporters that the vehicle was captured on video in broad daylight, stopping in the container area on April 28 at 10:26 p.m.
“This car is captured on Dale Avenue in the period of time we believe the body was dumped there, and inexplicably stops right next to the container for 21 seconds,” he said at a news conference. “So, of course, we want to identify this car.”
LOOK: Toronto police report the girl whose body was found in the bin:
It is “unlikely” that the child in the Rosedale container has ever been reported missing, according to police.
Insp. Hank Idsinga, head of the Toronto Police Homicide Unit, said investigators conducted a Canada-wide analysis to identify possible coincidences of missing children. None had evidence related to this case.
A criminologist at Western University in London, Ontario, says that although the car “is not such a glamorous track”, it could end up being “important”.
“Fortunately, it’s a relatively rare vehicle. It’s like an older model … that would allow police to do what’s known as offline search,” Michael Arntfield told CBC News.
“So you basically take records of all the vehicles of this brand and model the color over a period of years, and then reduce the possible license plates, which leads to potential home addresses when the vehicles “.
Arntfield says that while it may not seem like it right now, “this is a solvable case.”
The girl probably never reported missing in Canada: the police
Idsinga said the Ontario Missing Persons Center conducted a quick analysis to identify possible coincidences based on criteria from the province’s forensic and forensic pathology service.
The analysis identified 58 cases of missing children across Canada for investigative consideration, but investigators have no evidence linking the girl to any of those cases.
Investigators do not believe the girl was reported missing by police in Canada, Idsinga said, but do not rule out the possibility that she may have been reported missing in another country.
“This search and this part of the research is still ongoing. What I’ve focused on there is specifically the Ontario database, which captures everyone across Canada.”
Police released this photo of a vehicle of interest, described as a dark Porsche Cayenne SUV, from 2011 to 2014. (Toronto Police Service)
Police are asking the public to help identify the girl
Idsinga also said people should keep in mind that the skin tone of the photo posted on Tuesday is an approximation and may not be entirely accurate.
“But if there’s one thing that the graphic artist has absolutely nailed to his sketch, that would activate the memory or a thought in anyone, that’s all we need: motivate someone to call and say,‘ I think you know who it’s that girl, ”she said.
“Please call us and help us.”
Flowers and a card are found at the entrance to Rosedale’s house where a girl’s body was found wrapped in a construction trash can in Toronto. (Frank Gunn / Canadian Press)
The composite sketches were completed by a forensic artist from the Ontario Provincial Police who provides the service to the coroner’s office, according to police.
Police were called to the scene in the area of Castle Frank Road and Dale Avenue, north of Bloor Street East on May 2 at about 4:45 p.m.
That’s where they say the girl’s body was found wrapped in a crochet blanket inside a plastic bag, wrapped in a colorful blanket.
Investigators previously posted pictures of these two pieces of clothing in hopes that someone would recognize them and help identify the girl.
The release of these images “generated a lot of advice,” from people who thought they knew who owned the blanket, Idsinga said. Investigators have been following up on all the advice they have received, he added.
The cause of death is still unknown
Police described the girl as black, three feet six inches tall, with her curly hair sectioned into four short ponytails, two of which were braided and tied with black and blue rubber bands.
Police believe he is between four and seven years old, adding that he had all his teeth when his body was found.
An autopsy was performed last month, but forensic pathologists have not yet determined the cause of death, police said.
Investigators believe the remains were left in the area between April 28, at 12 p.m., and May 2, at 4:45 p.m. However, they say the girl may have been killed as early as the summer or fall of 2021, or earlier.
Police ask anyone with information to contact 416-808-5300 or leave an anonymous suggestion to Crime Stoppers by calling 416-222-TIPS (8477).