Investigators await autopsy results for Brant Street body

THUNDER BAY -- City police are still awaiting results of an autopsy on the body of a woman found Saturday in a wooded area off Brant Street.

Thunder Bay Polices Service spokesman Chris Adams on Monday said the woman has been identified, but it’s still too soon to give an official cause of death or determine if it was suspicious in nature.

A post-mortem was conducted in Toronto, but police have yet to discuss the results with the pathologists involved.

“Our investigators are still waiting to confirm with the coroner on the outcome of that examination,” Adams said.

“Each death like this is unique and anytime you have a person deceased outdoors in an area such as this, it requires some caution in the examination and investigation. We’re really just erring on the side of caution right now waiting for the outcome of the post-mortem.”

A passerby made the discovery on Saturday at about 1 a.m., notifying police a body had been found off a popular walking trail in the County Fair area.

Police immediately secured the area and as of Monday afternoon, had yet to release the scene. This is fairly common, Adams said.

“What’s customary is to hold the scene to allow our forensic unit to do their examination of that scene. Once there is a post-mortem scheduled the scene is typically held until after the post-mortem when the coroner makes the determination,” Adams said.

He added it will be up to the coroner to determine just how long the body had been at the scene and that unless the death was deemed criminal in nature, police likely wouldn’t be releasing the woman’s name.

Adams added police will try to trace the victim’s movements prior to her death now that they know who she is.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 684-1200 or Crime Stoppers at www.tipsubmit.com.