Hockey bag death shocks Northside

Cape Bretoners are expressing their shock about the death of a young woman whose body was found in a hockey bag.

Cape Breton Regional Policeconfirm the woman was a 21-year old from the Northside area, but won't release her name at the family's request. Her death is being treated as a homicide.

"It's a tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers as a police service are with the family of the victim," said Staff Sgt. Mike Kennedy, the lead investigator in the case.

"From what we've learned so far in the investigation, we're saying that it was not a random act. It seems to be an isolated incident."

Although the police will not release the victim's name,many people in the community know who she is and have expressed their feelings through social media sites.

"They say her death is shocking and very sad," the CBC's Wendy Martin reported Monday morning.

The woman's body was in a hockey bag that was found floating in the Mira River on Friday. Police divers scoured the area on Monday looking for more clues in her death.

Police have not said how she died or how long she had been in the river.

"The Cape Breton Regional Police Service presently has 25 members assigned full time to this investigation," Kennedy said earlier on Monday in a news release.

"As this investigation moves forward, if more resources are needed they will be taken from other sections within our police service or from outside agencies."