BY KEITH LACEY
More than five months after being reported missing, police officially confirmed for the first time Tuesday that they are conducting a murder investigation into the death of Daphne Kochar.
The OPP issued a news release Tuesday afternoon saying police, in consultation with the Chief Coroner of Ontario, have classified this investigation as a homicide.
Police say personal property belonging to Kochar was found in the Lively area this past Sunday. Greater Sudbury Police and OPP were continuing searching the area near the north entrance to Creighton Mine.
Forensic testing is continuing through the office of the Chief Coroner.
Kochar, 42, the wife of local physician Dr. Harinder Kochar and mother of three teenage daughters, was reported missing Nov. 6, 2005 after telling family members she was going out to run some errands and never returned.
An exhaustive search of area lakes and trails and the area near Kochar's home in the city's South End didn't uncover any clues for several weeks.
On Tuesday, Dec. 27, officers from the Sudbury OPP detachment attended a bush area off of Trout Lake Rd. in Burwash Township near Estaire after hunters discovered human remains in the area.
On Thursday, Dec. 29, the remains were positively identified as those of Daphne Kochar.
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