Canadian cops find more human remains at property linked to suspected 'serial killer who killed gay men and stuffed their bodies into plant pots'

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Toronto police returned to a home linked to alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur on Wednesday as they continue to search for more victims.

McArthur, 66, has been charged with eight counts of murder after allegedly meeting men online and in the Canadian town's gay village, and killing them, stuffing their bodies into planters, CNN reported. 

Spokeswoman Meaghan Gray said on their first day of digging, officers found 'items of interest' at the home - where they have already uncovered seven of the landscaper's alleged victims -  and they were searching for more.

On Thursday, Detective Sargent Hank Idsinga told reporters on Thursday the 'items' were indeed human remains, but they have not been identified.  

'Yesterday afternoon, human remains were located at one of the first digging sites,' he said.

The items will be taken for forensic testing. Police say they're investigating whether McArthur was involved in 15 cold case deaths from 1975 to 1997. Police are seen at the scene on Thursday

They had returned to the home as it was winter when they were last there, and they hoped a great thaw would help uncover more evidence. Above on Wednesday

Bruce McArthur is facing eight first degree murder charges after allegedly killing gay men and stuffing them in pots

Police in Toronto have returned to a home where the bodies of seven victims of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur were found, to continue searching for more

Police originally searched about 100 properties across the city linked to McArthur in the winter.

They decided to come back in summer when everything had thawed, along with police dogs, Edmonton Journal reported.

The dogs were taken to all the same properties, but only picked up a scent at the midtown home.

Ms Gray said on Wednesday the 'items' had been taken by the coroner's office to undergo testing and at the time she was unable to confirm exactly what officers had found.  

But on Thursday, it was confirmed more human remains had been found at the property where seven bodies had already been found. 

Police have begun to excavate the property, and are likely to continue working there for a few weeks.

Officials have said they are investigating the possibility other cold case killings could be linked to McArthur. They are specifically looking into 15 deaths from 1975 to 1997.

Police had taken canine officers to more than 100 properties linked to McArthur, but the dogs only picked up a scene at this midtown property (pictured: officers excavate the back of the  midtown property on Thursday) 

Officers said they found multiple 'items of interest' at the property thanks to the help of canine officers

The home does not belong to McArthur, rather to a couple named Karen Fraser and Ron Smith. 

They had a deal where the professional landscaper could store his tools and other things in their backyard and in return he would do their gardening for free. 

The 66-year-old is currently awaiting trial on eight counts of first degree murder for the deaths of Selim Esen, Skandaraj Navaratnam, Andrew Kinsman, Majeed Kayhan, Dean Lisowick, Soroush Mahmudi, Abdulbasir Faizi and Kirushna Kanagaratnam.

He is currently being held in custody and will return to court on July 23. 

McArthur, police said, would flood his Facebook with pictures of his cats, his children and him dressed as Santa Claus.  

Left: Victim Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam. Right: Alleged killer Bruce McArthur

Victims (left to right): Skandaraj 'Skanda' Navaratnam, 40; Majeed Kayhan, 58; and Soroush Marmudi, 50; all disappeared between 2010 and 2015

Victims (left to right): Dean Lisowick, 43; Selim Esen, 44; and Andrew Kinsman, 49, all disappeared between April 2016 and June 2017

But the landscaper had a well-hidden dark side.

In 2001, he was banned from Toronto's gay village for bludgeoning a man with a metal pipe. He was convicted on three counts, possession of a dangerous weapon, assault with a weapon, and assault causing bodily harm in 2003. 

McArthur was sentenced to two years less a day of a conditional sentence and three years probation. He was also banned and forbidden from consorting with male prostitutes. 

Police began surveilling McArthur in September following the disappearance of several men from the gay village, but they didn't have enough evidence to charge him. 

When authorities saw a male 'date' enter McArthur's high-rise apartment they kicked down the door and found the man had been tied to a bed, but was unharmed. 

Police said they found photos of McArthur's alleged victims on his computer. Forensic investigators also believe they had discovered blood from at least four victims in the apartment as well. 

THE EIGHT VICTIMS OF THE TORONTO SERIAL KILLER

Toronto landscaper Bruce McArthur was charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of eight men.  

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, 37

Immigrated to Canada from Sri Lanka in 2010 and lived in Scarborough. 

He has no immediate family in Canada and was never reported as missing.

His remains were only identified after police released a forensic sketch to the public.     

 

 

 

 

Skandaraj 'Skanda' Navaratnam, 40

Reported missing on September 16, 2010.

A refugee from Sri Lanka, he was last seen leaving Zipperz, a now closed gay bar in Toronto.

Friends said McArthur employed and had a sexual relationship with Navaratnam.  

 

Abdulbasir Faizi, 44 

Last seen leaving his workplace at about 7pm on December 28, 2010. His last known location was in the area of Church and Wellesley Streets.

An immigrant from Afghanistan, Fazi worked as a machine operator at a printing company.

He was married with children but secretly used gay dating apps for older and large men. 

 

Majeed Kayhan, 58

Reported missing on October 25, 2012. 

An immigrant from Afghanistan who frequented bars in the Gay Village near Church and Wellesley Streets.  

His remains were not found in the flower planters with the other victims. 

 

 

 

Soroush Marmudi, 50

Reported missing by his family in Scarborough in August 2015. 

Marmudi was not known to openly associate with Toronto's gay scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 Dean Lisowick, 43

A homeless occupant of the shelter system who had not been reported missing when his remains were discovered. 

Police believe he was murdered in April of 2016.

 

     

 

 

  

 

 Selim Esen, 44

Last seen April 14, 2017 in the Yonge and Bloor area. 

A Turkish native, he frequented the Gay Village area and Kensington Market and often had a small plastic suitcase on wheels similar to a carry-on bag.

His relationship with McArthur is unclear. 

 

 

Andrew Kinsman, 49

Last seen June 26, 2017 at 71 Winchester Street. 

Friends begin posting his image in the area and surrounding neighborhoods soon after he disappeared. 

Police believe he had a sexual relationship with McArthur. 

 

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