THUNDER BAY – The death of a woman who was found unresponsive on a County Fair area bike path is being investigated as a murder, police confirmed.
The body was found by a passerby near a north side hotel early Tuesday morning, who then called 911.
Thunder Bay police said the case is being treated as a homicide as a result of the continued investigation, though they did not elaborate on why foul play is suspected.
Det.-Sgt. Tracy Lewis on Tuesday provided what few details she could.
"In the early morning hours a passerby located an unconcsious female and officers arrived on scene and assisted with other emergency services. From there we have now deemed that we are investigating a homicide," Lewis said.
"As we are investigating it as a homicide, the post-mortem is going to be conducted in Toronto this week and we are asking for the public's assistance for anyone ... knowing anything about the investigation if they can contact Crime Stoppers. We do often rely on the assistance of the public."
Witnesses can also phone police at 684-1200.
Police have not said whether they have identified the victim, continue to hold the scene and are asking the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
The case is the second homicide investigated by the Thunder Bay Police Service in 2019. Last month, 40-year-old Lee Chiodo was found dead on Mission Island and three people have been arrested and are facing a murder charge. The body of a 21-year-old man from the Greater Toronto Area was found on Highway 527 in Shuniah. The OPP are the lead investigating agency on that case.
It's the third death in the same area since 2010. On July 25, 2017, the body of Marlan Chookomolin was found. Police have not labeled it a homicide, but a year later did say they had two persons of interest in the case.
In 2010, a 16-year-old girl was killed along the same pathway, leading to murder conviction of two other teens.
