Remains of man missing since January discovered in London, Ont., landfill

The search for a missing man that spanned several months came to an end last week after investigators found the remains of 57-year-old Nathaniel Brettell at a landfill site in London, Ont.

Toronto Police say they had been searching the location for several weeks when the remains were recovered on August 26. Brettell’s identity was confirmed through fingerprints.

Brettell had been presumed dead after vanishing from his home in the Weston Road and Dixon Road area on January 21, 2021.

The investigation brought police to a rooming house in the Royal York Boulevard and Lawrence Avenue West area on February 1.

Officers didn’t find Brettell during that visit, but spotted blood and returned the next day to conduct a more thorough search.

During their investigation of the rooming house, two police officers were attacked by a knife-wielding man. The suspect was tasered and arrested on the scene.

Police said the evidence collected from the scene led them to determine that the investigation would be considered a homicide rather than a missing persons case.

On May 12, the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Ahmed Al Farkh of Toronto, was charged with second-degree murder in connection Brettell’s disappearance.

In June, police obtained a search warrant for the Green Lane Landfill site in London, Ont., believing that Brettell’s remains might be found at the location.

“On Thursday, August 26th, 2021 we located remains of Nathaniel Brettell at the Green Lane Landfill in Southwold, Ontario,” police said in a brief statement. “The search at Green Lane has now concluded.”