Police investigators returned Friday to a wooded area outside the Erin town centre, where a man’s body had been found one day earlier.
More than 30 evidence markers were visible at the site, which sits along Wellington Road 124 east of the 10th Line.
Little information has been made public about the case.
The discovery came as the result of a fire call around 8 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters were told that there was a brush fire in the area, and did find a small fire upon their arrival.
Police have not released the man’s name or hometown, or said anything about the circumstances of his death – including whether they could be considered suspicious.
Several Erin residents approached by CTV News on Friday said that they were concerned about the death, and what they see as an increasing frequency of similar incidents in their community.
“It’s kind of a scary situation, especially for a small town,” said one man.
Erin Mayor Allan Alls presented a different view, calling the discovery “a very unusual occurrence” for his town.
“Most people feel very comfortable here,” he said.
Former OPP commissioner Chris Lewis says he can understand why some people might be frustrated not to know more details about what led to the man’s death – however, police officers have to take privacy and other matters into consideration before releasing any information to the media or the public.
“If they’re withholding, they’re not doing it to be difficult. They’re doing it for a very good, justified reason,” he said.
For example, Lewis said, police would need a “good reason” to release the name of a victim of a crime.
“Police departments want the media to inform the public, and want (them) to be communicating the truth, relieving fears or raising fears,” he said.
“There was a time when police departments would tell the media only what they were forced to, but that’s changed over the last 30 years.”
