Her Name is Neveah

Toronto Police investigators have given a name to the little girl discovered in a midtown construction site dumpster in 2022 and pledged to continue the investigation into her death.

Neveah Tucker was born on May 18, 2017 and lived in Toronto.

Homicide and Missing Person Unit Inspector Hank Idsinga credited a tip from the community, diligent work by investigators and the work of Centre of Forensic Science with finding her identify.

“As previously stated, we believe that Neveah died in 2021.  She would have been just shy of her 5th birthday when her body was placed in the dumpster,” said Idsinga, at a news conference held at Headquarters on June 29, noting her cause of death is undetermined.

Idsinga was joined at the conference by Detective-Sergeant Renee Foley and Detective Alex Wallace, the 53 Division officers in charge of the investigation.

Investigators from both 53 Division and the Homicide & Missing Persons Unit have been worked to review Missing Persons occurrences, pursue dozens of tips and begin the process of identification through DNA and genetic genealogy. No missing person report was made.

“The intersection of the genetic genealogy and the investigative work that sprung from the tip were on a bit of a collision course and they lined up quite nicely with each other and put us to where we are now,” Idsinga said.

Neveah’s mother was notified of the police identification today.

Police began appealing for help in the days after Neveah’s body was discovered in the Dale Ave. construction dumpster, releasing photos of fabric she had been wrapped in and a composite sketch of what she may have looked like.

“The response from the community was tremendous,” said Idsinga.

He noted that no arrest had been made or charges laid.

“We have a lot of work to do,” he said, noting that he is very limited as to what he can say because it is an ongoing investigation. “We will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate the circumstances leading up Neveah’s death, and the subsequent disposal of her body.”

Anyone with information can contact the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS (8477).