THUNDER BAY – The death of a woman whose body was found in the laneway of a south-side neighbourhood has been confirmed as a homicide.
Thunder Bay police on Friday afternoon identified the victim as 31-year-old Amelia Corrie Sainnawap, two days after she was discovered dead in the area of the 100 block of Cumming Street early Wednesday morning.
Det. Insp. Ryan Hughes said the case was initially being treated as a suspicious death before the determination was made that it was the result of foul play.
"We can't say it's a homicide until we have more evidence pointing toward that direction. If we say it's a homicide and it's not a homicide, then it looks bad on the part of the police," Hughes said.
"Through working with the pathologist, the coroner's office and the investigators doing their investigation, evidence that has been obtained through searches, through interviews, we can say that it's a homicide."
Hughes said he does not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety, but would not elaborate on particular reasons.
The detective would not answer questions about the cause of death or whether police have identified any persons of interest, responding that the case remains an ongoing investigation. Police said a heavy presence will remain in the area until further notice.
Police released a photo of Sainnawap and are asking anyone who saw her in the past week to come forward.
"We're hoping that any passersby, residents that weren't home when the police did their canvas or residents maybe too nervous to go forward to police, we're reaching out for any assistance through Crime Stoppers, through anonymous phone calls, through contacting the front desk to provide any information to us to further our investigation and to help this family of the victim."
It's the third murder of 2018 in Thunder Bay.
