Remains from ravine undergoing DNA tests

Police say evidence does not yet suggest body is missing trans woman Alloura Wells

A Toronto forensics lab is examining DNA from a body found in the Rosedale ravine in August as police investigate whether the remains are those of a missing transgender woman.

There isn’t any evidence at this point to suggest the body is that of 27-year-old Alloura Wells, also known as Alloura Hennessy, according to Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu.

But investigators confirmed that the deceased woman is transgender several days after the body was found, Sidhu said, and are still trying to confirm her identity.

The Centre of Forensic Sciences is testing the DNA, which was submitted to the centre earlier this month. Sidhu said it isn’t clear exactly how long it will take to get results.

Wells was last seen in downtown Toronto in July. A report was made to Toronto police of her disappearance on Nov. 6.

Her sister previously told the Star that Wells had been homeless for about three years. Michelle Wheeler said Toronto police told her father that Wells’s disappearance “was not high priority” because of her homelessness.

“That’s certainly not the proper response from any part of this organization,” Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash told the Star.

He said Supt. Tony Riviere of 51 Division had taken a “personal interest” in Wells’ disappearance and that he had tried reaching out to her family to apologize.

Andrea Sterling, the chair of Maggie’s: Toronto Sex Workers’ Action Project, said Wells’s disappearance wasn’t taken seriously because she was a sex worker. Wells was known to the organization, she said. With files from Alanna Rizza