Police tape marks a crime scene in this file photo.JOHN LEHMANN/The Globe and Mail
Post-mortem exams of three sets of human remains, discovered in a burned car near Barrie, Ont., on Friday have been delayed until early next week.
"We're dealing with it as a series of three suspicious deaths at this time," OPP Sergeant Peter Leon said on Saturday, adding that the results of the post-mortem examinations will guide the investigation.
At around 5:30 a.m. on Friday, a passing motorist reported a significant amount of smoke near Line 4 South, in the township of Oro-Medonte. Firefighters extinguished the car fire and then discovered there were three deceased inside.
"There was basically a metal frame left," said Sgt. Leon. "The tires were non-existent, so basically it was a metal shell of a vehicle on rims. That being said, the fire was extremely intense and the remains inside were severely burned."
The human remains, along with the charred vehicle, were transported to the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto on Friday afternoon.
Sgt. Leon said there has been no evidence to suggest a connection to five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, who were reported missing in Calgary.
"We are securing the scene until we're advised otherwise by our investigators. My understanding is we could be there until the post mortems are complete," said Sgt. Leon.