Police working to determine what happened after missing senior found in Mississauga park with limb injuries

Lewis Bradley Park is located south of Lakeshore Road West and east of Southdown Road.

An investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened after a missing senior was found in a park in Mississauga’s Clarkson neighbourhood over the weekend with limb injuries.

Peel police said while the victim’s family has asked for privacy, they have told CTV News Toronto that a woman in her 70s wandered away from her apartment complex on Bonnymede Drive sometime on Friday.

She wasn’t located until just after 6:30 a.m. the following day at Lewis Bradley Park, which is south of Lakeshore Road West and east of Southdown Road, police said.

The park is less than a kilometre away from the woman’s home.

Chris Cunningham lives in the same building as the woman and said she has health issues.

“Sadly, she’s lived here as long as I have. I think she’s actually lived here longer than I have. It’s a really tough situation for the family,” he told CTV News Toronto.

“From what I can tell, we’ve all known that she’s had dementia for a long time. It’s really gone downhill.”

Police say the senior, who was reported missing early Saturday morning, was located with critical injuries to her lower body.

Peel paramedics previously told CP24 that they performed life-saving measures on the woman before taking her to the hospital. She is now recovering in hospital and her injuries are not considered life-threatening, they said.

• READ MORE: Woman in critical condition following apparent coyote attack at Mississauga park

Police won’t say if incident was coyote attack

Peel Regional Police said they “cannot confirm or deny” that the woman’s injuries were caused by a coyote attack, saying they have no witness accounts.

“We do not believe the injuries were caused by another person or that foul play was involved,” they said in a statement, adding they’ve interviewed neighbours who live near the park and collected security video.

Eyewitnesses at the scene, however, told CTV News Toronto that the woman’s injuries appeared to be from a coyote attack. They say the incident happened behind a tree next to a playground overnight.

‘I feel scared, I do’

Residents say coyotes are common in the area and it’s worrisome.

“It’s unfortunate that, you know, the coyotes are becoming a little more active in the area, and that it’s starting to have influence on people and their pets,” said one man who was out walking his dog on Monday.

“I feel scared, I do,” added another.

Tracey Lee, who also lives in the area, said she always carries a flashlight and bear spray “in case anything happens.”

“I see (coyotes) frequently. They’re around all the time,” she said.

Cunningham, meanwhile, says people shouldn’t fear the wild canines, despite what may have happened.

“I’ve come across them so many times, but really, and I’m lucky to be a bigger guy, but at the same time, anytime that you see them, they’re not coming after you, they realize that you are not the prey they are looking for,” he said.

CTV News Toronto reached out to the City of Mississauga to find out if there have been any reports of aggressive coyotes in the area.

In a statement, the municipality said it has “no information to confirm what caused the woman’s injuries.”

“There have been 10 reported coyote incidents in Mississauga this year, involving dogs or cats. No incidents have been reported in Ward 2 (the location of Lewis Bradley Park) in 2025,” spokesperson Irene McCutcheon said.

The City of Mississauga also noted that there are currently no advisories for wildlife sightings in the area.

With files from CTV News Toronto’s John Musselman and Jon Woodward, and CP24’s Bryann Aguilar