Toronto police ID 19-year-old man a month after he was found in critical condition

• UPDATE: Since CBC Toronto published this story, police have now identified the victim as a 19-year-old man but have not released his name.

Toronto police say they have now identified a man whose identity was a mystery a month after he was found critically injured in Etobicoke.

Police located the young John Doe in the area of Celestine Drive and the Westway shortly after 11 p.m. on March 5, after receiving information that a victim had been taken out of the trunk of a dark coloured sedan by two suspects. The pair then allegedly left him on the sidewalk and drove away.

The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition and has been unable to communicate with police. 

In a news release Wednesday morning, police identified the victim as a 19-year-old man. He remains in hospital in critical condition, police say.  

"To protect the safety and identity of the victim, we will not be releasing any further information at this time," police said.

Police describe the victim as a young Black male five feet four inches tall, weighing about 93 pounds, clean shaven with short black hair and a scar above his right eyebrow. At the time he was found, he was wearing a puffy black Trapstar brand jacket and black pants. 

Police have been in touch with law enforcement agencies throughout the province and country, as well as in the United States, she added.

'It sits with me every day'

Jan Guppy is the founder the advocacy group Unidentified Human Remains Canada. With the help of thousands of social media followers, she works to help find missing people and determine out the identities of unidentified victims. 

Guppy been sharing information online about the young John Doe, and said she is somewhat surprised that a month later, his identity is still a mystery. 

"It sits with me every day. I wanted him identified. And we did receive hundreds of tips," Guppy said. 

Last year, the body of a child was found in a dumpster in the Rosedale neighbourhood. The girl, who police believe was four to seven years old, has still not been identified nearly a year later.

"We really think that there has to be somebody out there who must know who this victim is. And our officers very much want to identify him and then find the people responsible for... these injuries to him," Brabant said of the John Doe.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-2300, or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 416-222-8477.