Missing Markham woman's body found in Parry Sound
A teenager is facing firearms charges and two others are facing fraud charges, after police allege they were in possession of property belonging to a missing Markham woman whose remains were found in Parry Sound, Ont., earlier this month.
At a news conference on Thursday, York Regional Police said Yuk-Ying (Anita) Mui's body has been identified after it was found on Aug. 12.
Police said they believe Mui was murdered.
The 56-year-old's family reported her missing on Aug. 9, and her white 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 SUV was later found in the area of Finch Avenue E. and Warden Avenue in Toronto, police said in a news release Thursday morning.
Then on Aug. 12, officers reported that burned human remains had been found in the area of Avro Arrow Road and Highway 400 in McDougall Township, about 230 kilometres north of Toronto.
The Office of the Chief Coroner positively identified the deceased as Mui on Wednesday, police said.
A 17-year-old boy from Whitby has been charged with several firearms charges, including unauthorized possession of a restricted weapon, and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.
He also faces two charges of possessing property obtained by crime.
All three teenagers, including another 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, both from Toronto, have been charged with fraud under $5,000.
Police said they believe the teenagers used Mui's credit cards at multiple locations in the GTA after her disappearance.
"All three young offenders are persons of interest in this homicide investigation, but their exact involvement as to what they did … is being investigated," Det.-Sgt. Dave Gill said during a news conference on Thursday.
Two of the teenagers are out on bail, while a third remains in custody, with a bail hearing expected in the next week, police said.
Police say they are looking for a white 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter cargo van. They said they believe Mui was transported in a similar vehicle.
Anyone who may have seen the van or has surveillance video from Parry Sound or the area of 3821 Vandorf Sideroad in Whitchurch-Stouffville, between Aug. 9 and Aug. 12, is asked to contact investigators.
Police also say they believe this was a targeted incident.