Disturbing photo released in effort to ID possible victim in Toronto serial killing case

TORONTO — Toronto police have found a seventh set of remains related to the investigation into alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur and have released a picture of a bearded, darker skinned dead man.

Detective Sgt. Hank Idsinga said Monday they could not identify the man in the picture and are now seeking the public's help.

"I do not want to release this picture and I'm doing so as a last resort," he said.

CBS News is taking the unusual step of publishing the photo below because of the circumstances of the case and the police decision to release the image. Readers should be warned the image is disturbing. 

Idsinga said they've now found the dismembered remains of at least seven individuals this year in large planters at a home where McArthur did landscaping work and stored objects.  

Idsinga declined to say how police obtained the picture of the dead man. Investigators believe the man is another victim of McArthur, the CBC reports. Idsinga said the remains of the seventh victim have not been identified and they have not been linked to the unidentified man in the photograph, reports the CBC.

He said they showed the picture to members of the gay community but could not identify him. Many of the other alleged victims have been darker skinned and of South Asian or Middle Eastern descent who frequented the "Gay Village" area of Toronto.

Investigators have identified three sets of remains so far — 49-year-old Andrew Kinsman, 50-year-old Soroush Mahmudi and 40-year-old Skandaraj Navaratnam.

McArthur, 66, is charged with first-degree murder in their deaths, as well as the presumed deaths of 44-year-old Selim Esen; Majeed Kayhan, 58; and Dean Lisowick, either 43 or 44. Police have said they believe there are more victims.

Investigators have not yet released complete details, but McArthur is believed to have met his alleged victims in the Gay Village and on gay dating apps for older and large men with names such as "SilverDaddies" and "Bear411."

Police are looking at unsolved missing person cases to determine if there are connections to McArthur and are running down tips that have come in from around the world.

McArthur, a grandfather and former mall Santa Claus, has not entered a plea. His case is due back in court March 14. Edward Royle, a lawyer for McArthur, has previously declined to comment on the case and didn't respond to a message seeking comment on Monday.