Man charged with 1st

Man charged with 1st-degree murder in 2006 Scarborough cold case

Patrick Santos, 21, was found dead at a Scarborough home in 2006

It was a cold case for 20 years. Here's how a DNA breakthrough led to an arrest

Toronto police say they've arrested and charged a Hamilton man with first-degree murder in a Scarborough cold case dating back two decades, thanks to modern day forensic technology.

Patrick Santos, 21, was found dead in a Scarborough home near Ellesmere Road and Bellamy Road in September 2006, police said in a news release Thursday.

Speaking at a news conference on the same day, Det. Sgt. Stephen Smith said DNA was collected at the scene but there was no match in the national database.

Smith said investigators turned to genetic genealogy in 2020, identified a person of interest last year, then collected DNA from the suspect and confirmed a match with the DNA from the scene.

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Pierre O'Connor, 43, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder Wednesday, police said.

"Patrick was a young man. He had a job, a future ahead of him, and plans to move in with his girlfriend," Smith said.

"While nothing will ever bring Patrick back, today we can say that the person we allege to be responsible for taking his life has been identified, arrested, and will now have to answer before the courts."

More than 1 person may be involved: police

Smith said that the use of genetic genealogy has been game-changing in solving cold cases like Santos's.

"Cases that we thought were completely unsolvable are now solvable," he said.

Smith said he called Santos's mother when police solved the case. "She was very happy that somebody is going to be held to account for the murder of her son," he said.

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Police said the investigation is ongoing.

They did not disclose a motive but Smith said investigators believe the homicide may have been related to a dispute between two friend groups, and that more than one person may have been involved.

"At this time, we are still trying to determine the events that led to this murder and the relationship between the accused and the victim," Smith said.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.