Body of missing Toronto man Raheem White found in Lake Ontario, mother says

The mother of Raheem White, a Toronto man missing since late 2021, says his body was recovered in Lake Ontario.

Rosemarie White-Johnson tells CityNews that she received a call from Toronto police two days ago with the news, though many questions still appear to be unanswered.

Raheem White, 26, went missing on December 1, 2021, and was last seen around 3 p.m. in the Osler Street and Pelham Avenue area, near the Junction.

The same day, police located Raheem’s work vehicle, a green delivery truck, and his wallet and personal belongings inside. There had been reported several sightings, investigators acknowledged, but none were confirmed.

Witnesses near Toronto’s lakeshore called police after some spotted a body at Sunnyside Beach on Monday.

RELATED: Over 5 months since Raheem White’s disappearance, his mother looks for answers

Rosemarie says she received a phone call from the police saying a body that could be Raheem’s was found in Lake Ontario. One day later, police called her back and said the tattoos on the person’s body and dental records matched her son.

Toronto police confirmed on Friday that White had been located on Monday just before 10 a.m., but did not provide any further details.

Spokesperson Connie Osborne told CityNews that investigators only publicly identify homicide victims.

“If a missing person is found deceased and there [are] no suspicious circumstances, we would not confirm their identity as this is a private matter,” Osborne said in a statement.

“Young people don’t just get up and go to work and show up in a body bag,” Rosemarie said in an interview. “It doesn’t make sense. I need answers. I think the community needs answers.”

Toronto police shared a new video appeal to help locate Raheem White, 26, of Toronto, who has been missing since December 1, 2021.

Rosemarie says police told her that the death does not appear suspicious.

“This is not over because you found what you claim you found, and that’s what it is,” Rosemarie said. “There is a lot more that needs to be done at this point to bring validation to the community, to society, so that we can trust again that our kids can go where they’re going and come home safely to us without these kinds of situations happening.”

Friends and family of Raheem’s were interviewed dozens of times, and police said 21 witnesses had given statements about his disappearance.

“It didn’t sound like there was much of an investigation,” Rosemarie said.

“It didn’t appear or sound like someone would say, ‘OK, we’re going to find out what happened.’ I still have a long list of questions as to why [Raheem] was missing for so long anyways. [Police] didn’t say anything. They were just like, OK, we’re done.”

Weeks after her son went missing, Rosemarie noted that it was “very out of character” for her 26-year-old son to “walk away from life.”

“It can be challenging,” Rosemarie said. “What I’m going through with this situation. It’s challenging. However, there is a strength that comes from challenges.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators.