Water and land search conducted in Cortney Lake homicide investigation

A ground and water search related to the Cortney Lake homicide investigation off the Trans-Canada Highway in St. John's was conducted on Monday.

Police were called to Torbaymans Pond, in the Paddy's Pond area, on Sunday, after a report of found property.

Crews conducted a preliminary search of the area until dusk, but suspended work until daylight Monday morning.

Police have not said whether anything was found.

Cortney Lake investigation search at Torbaymans Pond

7 years ago

Duration 0:41

Police and search and rescue crews scour land and water in St. Johns on Monday, as part of the Cortney Lake investigation

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and Rovers Ground Search and Rescue were on the scene Monday morning, with crews walking along the shoreline.

Some searchers were also in and on the water, dragging the bottom of Torbaymans Pond.

There's no word from police on what exactly the found property was.

Last seen June 7

Police are asking the public to stay away from the area, while the search continues.

Glenda Power, Lake's aunt, tweeted that a volunteer-led search scheduled for the Paddy's Pond area Monday at 9 a.m. was postponed.

• Cortney Lake disappearance now a homicide investigation, RNC says

Police announced last week that Lake's disappearance is now a homicide investigation.

Lake, 24, was last seen June 7, getting into a black GMC pickup truck with a camouflage deer decal sticker on the back passenger side.

The description of the truck being sought by police matches the truck seized from 25-year-old Philip Steven Smith's home earlier this week. Police have not confirmed if it is the same truck.

Dashcam video shows Cortney Lake getting into truck prior to suspected death

7 years ago

Duration 0:58

CBC footage shows a black truck matching the same description provided by police in Lake's ex-boyfriend's driveway

The Alice Drive home of Smith, Lake's ex-boyfriend, was searched on June 27. Court documents show that Smith appeared in court on June 7, the same day Lake went missing, and pleaded guilty to a number of offences, including assaulting Lake.

On Friday, the RNC said they have identified more than one person of interest in the investigation.