COURTNEY McCLURE,
The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Durham Regional Police (DRPS) Detective Sergeant Doris Carriere delivered a press release to media attendees, about Toronto resident Ariel Kaplan’s murder investigation, on October 3rd, at the DRPS headquarters in Whitby at 10:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, May 10th, 2022, members of DRPS North Division responded to the area of Concession Road 6 and Allbright Road in Uxbridge. DRPS recovered human remains hidden in a hockey bag retrieved from a private pond, adjacent to the road.
The DRPS homicide unit has been working with the office of the chief coroner, identifying the remains as belonging to the previously missing Toronto resident, Ariel Kaplan. Investigators have come to the conclusion Kaplan was murdered.
Mr. Kaplan was reported missing in September 2021. The DRPS now believe Mr. Kaplan was abducted around the area of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue in Toronto, in late August 2021. Then he was supposedly killed, and his body disposed of.
Mr. Kaplan’s last known location was verified using cellphone data and interviews, according to the updated press release from the DRPS.
According to witnesses, Mr. Kaplan seemed to fear for his safety during the weeks leading up to his abduction.
On the night of his disappearance, investigators believe Mr. Kaplan may have had dinner with many acquaintances at a restaurant in the Yorkville area. The investigative team believes he was at the restaurant around 9 p.m. on August 29th, 2021.
One of the major issues the DRPS has with this investigation, according to Det. Sergeant Carriere is the timeframe of the case. DRPS believes Mr. Kaplan was murdered on August 29th, 2021, but his remains were not found until May 2022.
This makes it difficult to find video of Mr. Kaplan’s supposed whereabouts before he went missing and find more potential witnesses.
The team has conducted about 100 interviews and analyzed many documents over the course of this investigation.
“We have been sharing resources very well with Toronto [police service],” said DRPS Detective Sergeant, Doris Carriere. Shared resources include officers with different language skills (multilingual, etc.).
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact one of these addresses:
The DRPS toll-free tip hotline (to reach the investigative team) at 1-888-579-1520 extension 5444
Major Crimes Homicide Unit, Det. Graham at 1-888-579-1520 extension 5418
Anonymous information, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) Or visit:
www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.