In this artist's sketch, alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur makes an appearance via video in a Toronto courtroom, Wednesday, April 11, 2018. From left, lawyer Samantha Saunders, part of McArthur's defence team, McArthur, Justice Wendy Agnew and Crown Michael Cantlon are shown. (Alexandra Newbould/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Accused serial killer Bruce McArthur charged with 7th murder

Alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur is now facing a seventh premeditated murder charge while the investigative team is combing through cold cases from mid-1970s to late 1990s in search other potential cases connected to the 66-year-old Toronto landscaper, Toronto police said Wednesday.

McArthur, wearing an orange prison jump suit, appeared by video in a Toronto courtroom Wednesday morning to be charged with first-degree murder in the case of Abdulbasir Faizi, an Afghan immigrant who went missing in 2010.

Speaking at a news conference to provide new information about the investigation, which has made international headlines, lead investigator Det. Sgt. Hank Idsinga said police have identified three more of the at least seven sets of remains found in planters at a midtown Toronto property where McArthur worked as a landscaper and stored tools.

Up to 70 properties to be search with specially trained dogs

FILE – This undated file photo released by Toronto police shows Abdulbasir Faizi, an Afghan who immigrated to Canada from Iran. An assistant machine operator at a printing company, Faizi went missing on Dec. 29, 2010. (Toronto police via AP, File)

The Mallory Crescent property has been ground zero for the investigation, with police forensic science teams going “inch by inch” through the apartment in search of clues and evidence, Idsinga said.

Police are also waiting for warmer weather to investigate other properties associated with McArthur, Idsinga said.

“As a result of tips and help from the public we hope to begin searches of properties associated to Mr. McArthur with our K9 unit,” Idsinga said. “As of today our list has grown from 30 properties to 75.”

Alleged serial killer

McArthur was arrested Jan. 18 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance of Andrew Kinsman and Selim Esen, who went missing from the Gay Village in 2017.

On Jan. 29, police laid three additional first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Majeed Kayhan, Soroush Mahmudi, and Dean Lisowick.

McArthur was also charged in the death of Skandaraj Navaratnam in February. The Wednesday’s charge brings the total to seven, but police do not rule out more charges as investigation progresses.

The remains of Andrew Kinsman, Soroush Mahmudi and Skandaraj Navaratnam had previously been identified, Idsinga said.

“I can now add that the pathologists have identified the remains of Selim Esen, Dean Lisowick, and Abdulbasir Faizi,” Idsinga said. “At least one set of remains has yet to be identified and the remains of Majeed Kayhan have not been identified.”

Police also have evidence that leads them to believe that Lisowick was killed in April of 2016, he said.

An unknown victim

A police officer carries containers outside a house on Mallory Crescent in Toronto, where Bruce McArthur did landscape work, on Monday, January 29 , 2018. (Chris Young/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Idsinga said Faisi, who was 42 when he disappeared on Dec. 29, 2010, was one of the three men whose disappearances were linked through Project Houston, a task force launched by Toronto police in 2012, to look into the disappearances of the three men from Toronto’s Gay Village. Project Houston was shut down 18 months later without yielding any results.

The investigative team is now reviewing 15 homicide cold cases from 1975 to 1997, he said.

Toronto police are also seeking the public’s assistance in identifying another potential victim, whose graphic photo was released on March 5.

Toronto police Det.-Sgt. Hank Idsinga released a photograph of an unidentified man that he believes is a victim of Bruce McArthur. (David Donnelly/CBC)

“To date over 500 tips have come in from various sources,” Idsinga said. “From this list over 70 potential identities for the unknown man in the photograph have been received, the majority of this potential identities have been eliminated but we continue to work on 22 of them.”

Police are hoping to link the unidentified remains to the dead man in the photo, but are also looking for additional tips, he said.

Idsinga said it’s quite possible that the victim was not a resident of Toronto and that police were hoping to get tips to the man’s identity from other countries as well.

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