Body of Toronto man missing for 8 months found in southern Ontario landfill

The body of a man reported missing eight months ago has been found in a landfill in southern Ontario 200 kilometres from wherehe was last seen, police say.

Const. LauraBrabant, spokesperson for theTorontoPolice Service, said the remains of Nathaniel Brettell, 57, were located on Thursday, Aug. 26 in Green Lane Landfill near London, Ont.

Brettellwas last seen at his home in the Westona Street and Dixon Road area in Toronto's west end on Jan. 21.

In February, one month after Brettell went missing, policesaid they believed hehad been killed even though they hadn't found his body. They said there was "evidence from the scene" to suggest Brettell's disappearance should be treated as a homicide, but did not provide details.

Officers have been scouring Green Lane Landfill since July 5, after a "development in the investigation" led them to believe Brettell's body may be there.

On Feb. 2,two police officers were injured while searching for Brettell, whena man, aged 33 at the time, attacked them with a butcher knife. He was arrested and charged withseveral offences, includingtwo counts of attempted murder.

On May 12, the accusedwas subsequently arrested again and charged with second-degree murder.

Police on Thursday would not comment on the state of the remains, but said they used Brettell'sfingerprints to identify his body.

In a statement, they said the excavation involved multiple units,including homicide, police dogs, emergency management and public order, and the public safety unit.