Woman found dead off Highway 401 was reported missing in Toronto, man in custody, police say

A woman whose body was found Friday near Highway 401 in Pickering had been reported missing in Toronto days earlier and a man is in custody, police say. 

The woman was reported missing Wednesday in Toronto in the area of Brimley Road and Omni Drive, according to Det. Sgt. Phillip Campbell, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service. Early Friday, officers found her body in the area of Highway 401 and Whites Road.

The man, who was in a common law relationship with the victim, was charged with aggravated assault the same day the woman was reported missing, Campbell said.

The case was quickly deemed suspicious, he said.

Campbell said the suspect has provided some information and that police are not looking for any other suspects.

Police say the man remains in custody and that charges could be upgraded as the investigation progresses.

Police have not identified the victim. She is Toronto's 20th homicide victim of the year.

Campbell said the investigation is being conducted by the Toronto police because the victim was reported missing in Toronto.

Police posted on social media that they "located a deceased person in the area" shortly after midnight.

Workers in the area told reporters they were troubled by the news.

"It's troubling to know that something like this happened right here – something you see on like CSI or something," Cam Watters, who works in the area, said at the scene.

Watters said he and his colleagues noticed a helicopter earlier Friday morning but initially presumed it had to do with traffic. 

"It's very concerning," said Josh Wickis, who was also working in the area. 

Toronto police's homicide unit has taken over the investigation.

Campbell said police will provide more information in a news release later.