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Police release sketch of little girl found dead in Toronto dumpster

Toronto police on Tuesday released composite sketches of a little girl whose body was found in a dumpster in a high-end neighbourhood a month ago. Police have also released a photo of a vehicle of interest as part of their investigation.

Investigators looking for vehicle that stopped for 21 seconds around time body believed dumped

A sketch of a young Black girl.
Investigators say people should bear in mind that the skin tone in the photograph released Tuesday is an approximationand may not be completely accurate. (Ontario Provincial Police)

Toronto police have released a composite sketch of a little girl whose body was found in a dumpster in a high-end neighbourhoodone month ago.

Police have also released a photo of a vehicle of interest,described as a dark coloured Porsche Cayenne SUV, from between2011-2014, according to a news release.

Insp. Hank Idsinga told reporters the vehicle was captured on videostopping in the area of the dumpster on April 28at 10:26 p.m.

"That car is captured on Dale Avenue in the timeframe we believe the body was dumped there, and inexplicably stops right by the dumpster for 21 seconds," he said at a news conference. "So, of course, we want to identify this car."

WATCH: Toronto police provide update on girl whose body was found in dumpster:

'Unlikely' that child located in Rosedale dumpster has ever been reported missing, police say

2 years ago
Duration 1:22
Insp. Hank Idsinga, head of the Toronto Police homicide unit, said investigators conducted a Canada-wide analysis to identify potential matches of missing children. None had evidence linked to this case.

A criminologist at Western University in London, Ont., says though the car is "not as glamorous" a lead, it could actually end up being "significant."

"Fortunately, it's a comparatively rare vehicle. It's like an older model that would allow the police to do what's known as an offline search," Michael Arntfield told CBC News.

"So, essentially pull records of every vehicle of that make, model and colour over a span of years and then narrow down potential license plates, which then lead to potential home addresses when the vehicles were registered."

Arntfieldsays though it might not look that way at the moment, "this is a solvable case."

Girl likely neverreported missing in Canada: police

Idsinga said the Ontario Centre for Missing Persons conducted arapid analysisto identify potentialmatchesbased on criteria from the province's coroner and forensic pathology service.

The analysis identified 58 missing children cases from across Canada for investigative consideration, but investigators have no evidence linking the girl to any of those cases.

Investigators don't believe the girl was ever reported missing to police in Canada, Idsinga said, but cannot ruleout the possibility that she may have been reported missing in another country.

"That search and that part of the investigation is still ongoing. What I've focused on there is specifically the Ontario database, which captures everyone across Canada."

Police released this photo of a vehicle of interest, described as a dark coloured Porsche Cayenne SUV, from between 2011 and 2014. (Toronto Police Service)

Police plead for public to help identify girl

Idsingaalsosaid people should bear in mind that the skin tone in the photograph released Tuesday is an approximationand may not be completely accurate.

"But if there is simply one thing that the graphic artist has absolutely nailed in their sketch, that would trigger the memory or a thought in anyone out there, that is all we need to motivate someone to call and say, 'I think I know who that girl is,'" he said.

"Please give us a call and help us out."

Flowers and a card sit on the pavement in the foreground, with a house in the background.
Flowers and a card sit on the driveway of the Rosedale house where the wrapped body of a young girl was found in a construction-site dumpster bin in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

The composite sketches were completed by a forensic artist from the Ontario Provincial Police who provides the service to the Coroner's Office, police say.

Police were called to the scene in the Castle Frank Road and Dale Avenue area, north of Bloor Street East on May 2 around 4:45 p.m.

That's where they say the girl's body was found wrapped in a crocheted blanket inside a plastic bag, wrapped in a colourful blanket.

Investigators previously released images ofthose two pieces of clothin hopes that someone might recognized them and help identify the girl.

The release of those images "generated a lot of tips," from people thinking they knew who owned theblanket,Idsingasaid. Investigators have followed up on all of the tips they received, he added.

Cause of death still unknown

Police have described the girl as Black, threefeet and sixinches tall, with curly hair sectioned in four short ponytails, two of which were braided and tied with black and blue elastics.

Police believe she is four to sevenyears old, adding thatshe hadall her teeth when her body was found.

WATCH | Have you seen this little girl? Police release sketch of child found dead in dumpster:

Toronto police release sketch of little girl found dead in dumpster

2 years ago
Duration 2:01
Toronto police have released a composite sketch of a little girl whose body was found in a dumpster in a high-end neighbourhood in May.

A post-mortem exam was performed last month, but forensic pathologists have yet to determine a cause of death, police said.

Investigators believe the remains were left in the area between April 28, at 12 p.m.and May 2, at 4:45 p.m. However, they say the girlmay have been deadas early as the summer or fall of 2021, or earlier.

Police are asking anyone with information contact 416-808-5300, or to leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 416-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from Thomas Daigle