Homicide unit investigating after human remains found in Niagara-on-the-Lake

File Image: Niagara Regional Police vehicle - CP24

Niagara police’s homicide unit is investigating after human remains were recently found in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Investigators say on Aug. 31, at about 2 p.m., they were called the area of Read Road, near the shore of Lake Ontario, for reports of the discovery of unidentified human remains.

Police said their initial investigation determined that a human skull had been located.

That area was then secured and 2 District Criminal Investigation Branch took over the investigation with the support of the force’s Forensic Services Unit.

Three days later, on Sept. 3, police say “full skeletal remains” were subsequently located in that vicinity.

Police in Niagara region are now working with the Coroner’s office as well as the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service to help with the identification of the remains.

“Due to the state of decomposition, investigators are unable to provide any further details on identity at this time,” they said in a news release.

“The area where the remains were found remains under police guard while police conduct more thorough searches of the area.”

Investigators noted that this discovery is being treated as “suspicious.”

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Niagara police at 905-688-4111, dial option 3, ext. 1009417, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.