Police in Toronto say they’ve recovered the remains of at least six people from a property connected to accused serial killer Bruce McArthur, charged with the deaths of at least five gay men who disappeared between 2012 and 2016.
WATCH LIVE: Police update on Bruce McArthur investigation https://t.co/sMWq9mtmXx pic.twitter.com/s8i0PegvVb
— CP24 (@CP24) February 8, 2018
McArthur was arrested January 18 in connection with the disappearances of Selim Esen, 44, and Andrew Kinsman, 49, who went missing last spring in Toronto’s Gay Village. Since then, police have also charged the 66-year-old landscaper with the murders of Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Marmudi, and Dean Lisowick. It’s unclear if the remains, found in planters are of the missing men or other victims.
Toronto police have found dismembered human remains inside planting pots at a property in Leaside. @CityAdrian reports on the latest gruesome details in the Bruce McArthur murder investigation. https://t.co/3q813e3cin pic.twitter.com/Eeu9QOrSlq
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNews) January 29, 2018
Police believe the McArthur had a sexual relationship with Kinsman, whose remains were among those discovered on Thursday.
Police have dedicated an unprecedented amount of resources to the case, including 12 investigators, a forensics team, and a K9 unit. Previously, police had dismissed rumors of a serial killer targeting gay men, but Homicide Detective Hank Idsinga now says there’s no telling how many victims McArthur might’ve killed.
“The city of Toronto has never seen anything like this,” Idsinga told The Globe and Mail.
Authorities are now scouring other residences McArthur worked on, and expect to find more remains in other planters they’ve retrieved. Police are likely to file more charges as bodies are identified.
According to the AP, it’s believed McArthur met his victims cruising around the city in his van and on gay dating apps for older men. On his Silver Daddies profile, McArthur described himself as interested in younger men. “I can be a bit shy until I get to know you, but am a romantic at heart,” he wrote.
His next court date on February 14.