A natural area in Kitchener’s south end was searched Wednesday in connection with the death of Erin Howlett.
The investigation into Howlett’s death has lasted for nearly three months without any arrests or charges.
Her body was found July 5 in the Grand River near Riverbend Drive in Kitchener, only hours after she was reported missing by her Elmira family – but several days after she was last seen.
Waterloo Regional Police arrived at the Trillium Natural Area Wednesday morning, and a Gravenhurst-based OPP underwater search and recovery unit was also called in.
Insp. Kevin Thaler says there were 22 officers searching the natural area, with searches planned for other areas as well.
Officers using metal detectors appeared to be focused on two particular ponds in the area.
Thaler says police hoped to find evidence helping them advance their investigation.
“Right now, this investigation is being led by our homicide unit,” he says.
“We are still considering this a suspicious death and I’m not prepared to say anything further in that regard.”
Search warrants were executed in September at a home on Chestnut Street in Kitchener.
At the time, police did not give any information on what, if anything, they found.
