No evidence of a serial killer in Church-Wellesley but there are opportunities to 'learn,' police say

Toronto PoliceChief Mark Saunders says the force is looking at ways it can better respond to missing persons investigations after criticism that itisn't doing enough to protect members of the Church and Wellesleycommunity.

"I think there are opportunities for us to learn, grow and develop," said Saunders.

"A lot of our procedures are learned from unique circumstances that have happened. We go back to review, we analyze and then we revitalize our procedures at play."

• Family ofTessRicheysays mother found her body, police looking to ID 'unknown' male
• Death ofTessRicheyruled a homicide, police say 'neck compression' was cause of death

The probewill assessToronto police'sresponse to TessRichey'sdisappearance. The 22-year-old was found dead last month by her mother just doors away from where she went missing in the Church and Wellesley area.

At a news conference on Friday, Saunders saidtheinvestigation will let him know whether there is a procedural,training or other issue that needs tobe resolved by the force.The announcement comes afterpolice updated the public on three separate investigations causing concern in the Church-Wellesley Village.

"The investigation will involve questions and answers and facts and give me the opportunity to have more clarity on exactly what happened and what were the circumstances," he added.

Asked specifically what prompted the investigation, Saunders wouldn't specify but said the purpose of the news conferencewas toaddress concerns raised by the community along with speculationcirculating around the variousdisappearancesin the area.

One factor that thechief did point out was the importance ofcall intake.

"When somebody's calling in to report a missing person, an element of sensitivity is something that Ithink is necessary. And as busy was we may be, just taking that extrastepand realizing what the circumstance is, Ithink,can go a long way," he said.

As news ofRichey'shomicide broke, some in the community have takensafety into their own hands, with volunteers banding together to develop a walk-safe program.

"I do have some concerns, when they're setting up their ownsearchparties to look for missingpeople, then Ihave to question whether or not as a service we're offering the right value to the community," Saunders said.

Surveillance video shows Richey'sfinal moments

Richey'shomicide is the most recent of the three investigations.

Speaking to reporters Friday,Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson recounted some of the 22-year-old's final hours before her death.

On Nov.25, Gibson said, Richey and a friend went to the Crews and Tangos bar from midnight until about 1:45 a.m. After that, she and the friend headed to the intersection where there was a hot dog cart.

It was there where police say the pair met a number of different people, includingthe male who would go on to become a suspect in what police described as Richey's murder.

From there, the three headed northbound on Dundonald Street, where they spent some time talking with a male and female who they met in the area, said Gibson. The group eventually went their separate ways, with Richey and the would-be suspect walking away northbound the the area of 582 Church Street around 4 a.m Saturday.

"There's an alley there and a stairwell and this is where we last see Tess," said Gibson, referring to video footage police obtained shortly after Richey's body would be found. CBC Toronto previously reported it was Richey's own mother who travelled to Toronto and located her daughter's body on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 29 in the stairwell located outside a building undergoing construction.

"Following this, we don't see Tess anymore ... and she's not seen by any witnesses following that time," Gibson said.

Police say surveillance footage shows the man exiting the stairwell on his his own, heading northbound on Church Street. He is described as having light skin, between 5'7" and 6' with a slim build and dark hair, wearing a dark jacket and lighter pants."

Richey's death was initially believed to be accidental, but a post-mortem examination found she died of neck compression. It was after that that homicide investigators took over the case.

AllouraWells vanished in July

Police also gave an update on the investigation into the death of Alloura Wells, a transgender Toronto woman who disappeared in July.

Wells was reported missing by her father in early November, four months after her Facebook account went dormant.

• Police investigating Alloura Wells's death name boyfriend as 'person of interest'

• Body found in Toronto ravine identified asAllouraWells, police say
• Family and friends of transgender woman missing since July launch new search, blast police response

Her body was recovered from theRosedale Ravine Lands Park a month later, on Aug.5.

Friends and family of Wells organized their own search for her and saidthey feltpolice did not take her disappearance seriously enough because she was a transgender woman who lived and worked on the streets.

At Friday's news conference, police saidher boyfriend was the last person to see her alive and are asking for him to come forward.

'Project Prism': Andrew Kinsman, Selim Esen

Updated information was also provided on "Project Prism,"which is the investigation into twomissing gay men.

The disappearance of Andrew Kinsman and SelimEsenfrom the Church and Wellesley areahas sparked concern among residentsin the heart of Toronto's gay communityabout using online dating apps.

• Police set up tip line in search for 2 men missing from Church and Wellesley area
• 'We just want closure,' says missing man's family who fears he won't be found alive

Kinsman went missing in June and Esen went missing in April. Police say the longer the men are missing, the more concerned they are that there was foul play involved.

Investigators say the two disappearances are not related to the 2012 Project Houston investigation that looked into similar disappearances of men in the area.

Police also added thatthey don't have proof that the two cases are related, or that dating apps and social media are tiedto their disappearances. Investigators statedthere is no proof of a serial killer.