VIDEO: Body found in Junction Creek not yet identified

As of 12 p.m. Sunday police had not yet removed human remains in Junction Creek that a 12-year-old girl and her father discovered Saturday evening.

“We have to preserve the integrity of the scene,” Greater Sudbury Police Services Staff Sgt. Craig Maki told media at a press briefing Sunday afternoon. “Further to that, we want to remove the body in a manner that preserves the dignity of the person that has passed.”

Maki said police were not in a position at that time to release any information about the deceased. They could not confirm the person's age, or if they were male or female.

The investigation is being led by the coroner's office, he said, because the person's cause of death remains unknown.

“All deaths like that fall under the coroner,” Maki said. "If it's determined to be a homicide, then we will take it over.”

But the Greater Sudbury Police Service's forensics identification, criminal investigations and traffic management units were aiding the coroner's office in the investigation.

The Greater Sudbury Fire Service's water and ice rescue team was on site at Junction Creek, near the intersection of Regent and McLeod Streets, to retrieve the human remains from the water.

Maki said in a best case scenario, a post-mortem could happen Monday.

Police have asked the public to share any information that might aid the investigation, including knowledge of missing persons, by calling the criminal investigations unit at 705-675-9171 ext. 2300, or by leaving an anonymous tip Crime Stoppers, by calling 1-800-222-TIPS.