The Toronto Police Professional Standards Unit is starting an internal investigation after the family of murdered North Bay woman Tess Richey, complained the organization failed the family.
The 22 year old was found dead in an alleyway near an abandoned building in the Church St. area Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. by her own mother, close to where she was last seen.
It was the girl's 23rd birthday.
She was reported missing last Saturday morning, November 25, at 3 a.m. She was last seen in the Church Street and Wellesley Street East area.
Her death was ruled accidental initially, but an autopsy on Friday Dec. 1 showed she was strangled. TPS Homicide took over the investigation.
See: Missing North Bay woman murdered: Toronto police
"There were some concerns and we felt that it was appropriate to look into it further to see exactly what happened to see if there was anything that could have been done differently," said police spokesman Mark Pugash.
There have been a number of suspicious disappearances in the area recently.
Police have now issued a news release describing a suspect in the case.
They think the man was seen with Richey between 2 and 5 a.m. Saturday when Richey's friend departed the area.
See previous release.
She would have been in the company of this male on Church Street, in the areas of Wellesley Street and Dundonald Street.
This unknown male has been described as:
- white,
- taller than the deceased, approximately 5’7” - 6’,
- slim build,
- light-coloured short hair.
Investigators are looking to identify this man.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
