With 7th murder charge laid, police 'don't know how deep' McArthur investigation will go

With alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur now accused of killing seven men, Toronto police say there's still a possibility of more victims as they prepare to search 75properties and look into cold cases going back 40 years.

• Toronto police identify dead man linked to Bruce McArthur case

In a Toronto courtroom earlier in the day, McArthur, 66, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Abdulbasir Faizi, who went missing in 2010.

Faiziwas 42 when he disappeared. Hefrequented Toronto's Gay Village, butkept his nightlife hiddenfrom his family, according to his nephew,BobacFaizi.

Police said they believe McArthur and Faizi knew each other.

At a news conference Wednesday to provide new information about the investigation, police also said they have identified three more of the at least seven sets of remains found at a midtown Toronto property where McArthur worked as a landscaper and stored tools.

Idsinga told reporters the dismembered remains of Selim Esen, Dean Lisowickand Faizihave been identified.

Police had previously identified the remains of Andrew Kinsman, Soroush Mahmudiand Skandaraj Navaratnam.

McArthurwas arrested in January, accused of preying on men in theLGBTQcommunity who hung out in the downtown Gay Village.

The other charges relate to the deaths ofMahmudi, 50, Kinsman, 49, Navaratnam, 40, Esen, 44,Lisowick, 47, andMajeedKayhan, 58.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that the seventh set of remains, whichIdsingadescribed as being in "various stages of decomposition," belong toKayhan.

The men went missing between 2010 and 2017.

Search for unidentifiedman continues

On Wednesday, police updated the public on several aspects of the investigation, including their ongoing push to identify adeceased man who they released a graphic image of last month.

Idsingasaid Wednesdaythat investigatorsreceived hundreds of tips about the identity of the man in the photo, and have since whittled down the list to 22 possible identities.

Police also released an enhanced photo of the man to aid in his identification, with Idsingathanking activist Nicki Ward for her help in touching up the picture.

Idsingasaid investigators needed to identify the man so they could pursue "possibles"with hopes that DNA or dental records wouldmatch up with found remains.

He also said it's possible the man is not from Toronto.

A police sourcepreviously told CBC Toronto the image of the man was among acache of images of alleged victims found on McArthur's computer, though on WednesdayIdsinga refused to confirm that information.

Police are also filling in the blanks as to the exact fate of Dean Lisowick, who was neverreported missing to police.

On Wednesday, Idsinga said that Lisowick was killed in April 2016.

Search for clues continues

The city-spanning search for evidence will likely ramp up in May as police prepare to search 75 pieces of both public and private property with canine units, including a number of houses where McArthur did landscaping work.Excavations of the propertieswill be determined by what the dogs pick up, Idsinga said.

Police are also now finishedsearching about20 planters seized from various locations around the city, with no additional remains discovered inside.

Investigators are still going throughMcArthur'sThorncliff Park apartment "inch by inch," Idsinga said.

• The Fifth Estate|It happened before: Unsolved murders in Toronto's Gay Village

Police are also still reviewing cold case files dating back to the1970sinvolving gay men who were slain in Toronto's downtown core after leaving bars popular in theLGBTQcommunity. Most of the men were stabbed to death and found naked in their beds.

McArthurwould have been in his twentiesat the time.

Idsinga told reporters Wednesday the police are looking into15 cases from between 1975 and 1997 and are working on a detailed timeline of McArthur'swhereabouts over the years.

He had previouslytold theCBC'sThe Fifth Estate that he "wouldn't be surprised" ifMcArthuris linked to more killings.

Statistically, most serial killers start committingcrimes in their20sor30s.

Some of the menMcArthuris accused of killing kept their sexuality hidden from their families, were new to Toronto or had few ties to the community.

• 'Are brown men disposable?': Disappearances of men of colour not taken seriously enough, LGBT leader says

John Lancaster can be reached at john.lancaster@cbc.ca or at 416-205-7538