TIMMINS – November 4, 2026
Timmins Police Service officers remain on scene after human remains were discovered in the Hersey Lake area on November 3.
The discovery was reported to police on Tuesday. Officers secured the immediate area and have remained in place while investigators work to determine the circumstances. The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Coroner. A forensic anthropologist is also assisting.
Police have released no further details. Officials said no additional information is available at this time and that updates will be provided as they become available.
Hersey Lake Conservation Area sits in jack pine forest just north of Timmins, accessed off Highway 655 via Boychuk Drive. The Mattagami Region Conservation Authority acquired the 226-hectare property in 1979. The site includes an unsupervised sandy beach, picnic facilities, washrooms, parking, and a network of trails that connect to the larger Timmins Recreation Trail system. Lookouts, boardwalks, and an off-leash dog loop are among the features. The area sees regular use for hiking, swimming, and picnicking in summer and for walking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in winter.
The discovery has closed a section of the popular recreation area while police continue their work. No information has been released on the identity of the remains, the condition in which they were found, or whether foul play is suspected.
In a previous Timmins case, police confirmed in January 2026 that remains found in a wooded area off Riverside Drive in September 2025 belonged to Marc Renaud, who had been reported missing in February 2024. That investigation was closed with no foul play suspected after forensic examination and DNA analysis. Police have not indicated any connection between the earlier case and the current discovery at Hersey Lake.
Forensic anthropology work in such cases typically involves examination of skeletal material to help determine identity, age, sex, and possible indicators of cause or manner of death. Results from that process, along with any DNA analysis, are not yet available. The Office of the Chief Coroner is involved whenever human remains are found under circumstances that require determination of identity and cause of death.
Timmins Police have not said how the remains came to be discovered or whether the report came from a member of the public using the trails. The force has not asked the public for assistance or information at this stage.
The Hersey Lake site is one of the more accessible outdoor areas within a short drive of the city. Its trails form part of a broader network used by residents and visitors year-round. Closure of even a portion of the conservation area removes access to a space that local families and outdoor users treat as routine recreation.
Northern Ontario communities have seen occasional discoveries of human remains in wooded or remote areas. Investigations can take weeks or months when identification requires DNA comparison against missing-persons databases or when the remains are incomplete. Police in Timmins have previously used forensic anthropologists and coordinated with the coroner’s office on similar cases.
As of Wednesday, officers were still on site and the secured perimeter remained in place. Police said the investigation is ongoing and that further information will be released when it becomes available.
No missing-person bulletin has been linked to the Hersey Lake discovery in statements released so far. Residents who frequent the conservation area are advised to follow any police directions regarding access while the scene is under investigation.
The Timmins Police Service statement confirmed the date of the discovery, the involvement of the coroner’s office and a forensic anthropologist, and the fact that no further details are being released at present. Local coverage from TimminsToday and the Timmins Daily Press reported the same limited facts and noted that the conservation area is a commonly used hiking location.
Investigators have not indicated a timeline for completing the initial forensic work or for any public update. In previous cases in the city, identification announcements have come after laboratory analysis rather than immediately after discovery.
The Hersey Lake Conservation Area remains under the management of the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority. The authority has not issued a public statement on the police investigation or on any temporary restrictions beyond those imposed by police at the scene.
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