Peel Regional Police say the body of a 14-year-old boy found dead near a Mississauga park on Friday had obvious signs of trauma.
Multiple sources have identified the slain boy as Riley Martin, although authorities have yet to confirm that.
A police spokesperson declined to say what those traumatic injuries were, but said investigators are treating the case as a homicide.
Const. Danny Marttini said the victim, a high school student, left his home in the Truscott Drive and Southdown Road area on Thursday night. His body was found just before 8 a.m. Friday, Marttini told reporters, adding the teen hadn’t been reported missing and it’s unclear why he left his home.
The park where the boy was found is not far from Clarkson Secondary School, where Martin attended classes. While there are a number of other schools in the area, Marttini said there’s nothing linking them to the boy’s death.
The Peel District School Board has said its thoughts are with the boy’s family and it will be supporting students at schools in the area.
In a letter sent to Clarkson families, the board said “police believe this is an isolated incident and have assured us there are no additional safety precautions needed at our school.”
Meanwhile, investigators from the homicide unit and missing persons bureau remain at the scene. Marttini said the investigation could take days.
Police have cordoned off a park that includes a playground area. Several investigators clad in white forensic suits could be seen searching for evidence.
Marttini said police are looking for any information that could help with the case, including surveillance video or dashcam footage captured in the area.
Earlier, police said the victim was 13, but later corrected his age to 14.
A 14-year-old boy was found dead in a Mississauga park on Friday, Peel Regional Police say.
It is not yet known how the teen died, but police say they are treating his death as a homicide.
Officers located the boy’s body just before 8 a.m. in the area of Truscott Drive and Southdown Road. There are several schools in the area, although it’s unclear if the boy attended any of those schools.
The Peel District School Board tweeted on Friday that its thoughts are with the boy’s family, and it will be supporting students at schools in the area.
Investigators from the homicide unit and missing persons bureau are currently on the scene.
Police have cordoned off a park that includes a playground area. Several investigators clad in white forensic suits could be seen searching for evidence.
Earlier, police said the slain boy was 13, but later corrected his age to 14.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/body-of-boy-found-1.4936808
