Body found in ravine undergoing DNA tests to see if it belongs to missing transgender woman

Toronto police say a sample from a body found in Rosedale Ravine Lands Park in early August is undergoing DNA testing to determine if the body belongs to missing woman Alloura Wells.

MeaghanGray,spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, confirmed on Tuesday thatthe body is of a transgender woman. The bodywas recovered from an area in the midtown Toronto ravine, which is near Bloor Street East and Rosedale Valley Road.

Ontario's Forensic Sciences in Toronto is testing a DNA sample of a family member of Wells against a sample from the body. Police sought the samplefrom a family member after Wells was reported missing in early November, shesaid.

"Those results have not been finalized," Graysaid in an email on Tuesday.

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Police have said Wells, 27, was last seen in downtown Toronto about in late July and it could take weeks before the results of the DNA testing are released to the public.

No police news release was issued when the body was found in Augustbecause police said they do not notify the publicevery time a body is found.

Gray said there was no identificationon the body when it was located.

"Based on the state of the body, there were no details that the police could release to the public," she said.

"Because of this, officers have been working since August to identify the body or establish enough detail that could be released to the public for the purpose of soliciting input."

Wells, also known asAllouraHennessy andAllouraWheeler, was reported missing by her father on Nov. 5. According to her Facebook profile, she is from Vancouver. She stopped posting on Facebook asAllouraHennessy in late July.

On Nov. 8, police issued a news release saying Wells was missing and they releasedtwo photographs of her.

Gray said when police received the missing person report, they realized there might be a connection to the body found inthe ravine. She said the two investigations then intersected and that led to the DNA testing.

Police have not said exactly where the body was found and declined to say if the person suffered any trauma.

Monica Forrester, program director at Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project,said it's good news that the testing is underway because it could help the family and police direct their search for Wells or bring some closure to those involved.

"We feelit will bring some clarity to the family, who hasn't seen her for some time,and it will bring some clarity to the community," Forrestersaid.

If the body doesn't belong to Wells, then Forrester said the question will be: "Who is she?"

On Nov. 11, volunteers searched for Wells inpart ofRosedaleRavine Lands Park and a stretch ofBloorStreet East, between the St. James Town neighbourhood and the Church and Wellesley corridor, an area Wells was known to frequent.

On Nov. 19, the day beforeTransgender Day of Remembrance, a vigil and march was held for Wells atBarbara Hall Park in the Church Street and Wellesley Street East neighbourhood.

"We're not 100 per cent sure this is Alloura," Forrester told peopleat the vigil about the body.

Friends of Wells have criticized the police for not taking her disappearance seriously, saying her case was not made a priority until itreceived media coverage.

The police were also criticized for not releasing information to the public about the body until recently. Forrestersaid she found out about the body earlier this month.

According to Maggie's: Toronto Sex Workers Action Project, police have been reluctant to investigate the case fully because she was homeless and earning moneyas a sex worker aroundthe time she vanished.

Relying on community for answers

The project says it has been relying on members of its community in its search for answers.

"We will not stop until we have answers and justice for Alloura," a Nov. 19Facebook post by Maggie's reads.

According to a police news release, Wells was described as having a slim build, with brown shoulder length hair that might have been dyed blonde or pink.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact police or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.