York police find human remains during search for missing woman

Investigators searching for missing woman Ying Zhang have located human remains in Kawartha Lakes, York Regional Police announced Wednesday. 

Officers made the discovery in the Village of Kirkfield, roughly 140 kilometres northeast of Toronto, police said in a news release.

Speaking with reporters Wednesday, Const. James Dickson said officers were searching the area based on information gleaned over the course of their investigation — but forensic testing is still needed to concretely identify the remains. 

"At this time, we're still waiting for the Centre of Forensic Sciences and the Office of the Chief Coroner to be able to identify these remains for us," Dickson said.

"We are no longer in the area searching, but we are continuing with the investigation."

The discovery was made during a ground search on Monday around 5 p.m., police said, in the area of Palestine Road and Fenel Road. Dickson said the remains were found near a roadway.

Zhang, 57, was last seen around 10:40 a.m. Thursday at a wellness centre in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham. Her family reported her disappearance that evening after she failed to return home from work, police said.

On Saturday, investigators with York police's homicide and missing persons unit arrested a 26-year-old man from East Gwillimbury. 

The man has been charged with kidnapping, forcible confinement and aggravated assault, police said. It's possible that those charges could be upgraded depending on the outcome of the investigation, Dickson said.

Police are still trying to figure out if the accused and Zhang knew each other, and if anyone else was involved in the incident, Dickson added. 

The man's white Ford van was seen in the area at the time of Zhang's disappearance, according to police. Additionally, he was seen near the van with a large green compost bin — which, Dickson said, was found on Monday at the same time the remains were discovered.

Police are asking anyone who was in the area at the time Zhang was last seen, or who may have seen the accused's vehicle, to contact investigators.