Remains in Guelph park identified, police lay murder charge

Human remains, found in a Guelph park last week, have now been positively identified as belonging to a missing 62-year-old man.

Police also say another man has been charged with his murder.

Mike Gallizzi was last seen Dec. 6 in downtown Guelph and was reported missing two days later when he failed to show up for an appointment.

"Which was, initially, what caused some concern. There were also other reasons that people in the community were concerned for his wellbeing," Scott Tracey, the media relations coordinator for Guelph police, said. "I can't get into those details."

Gallizzi was last seen wearing a dark parka and snow pants. He also used a walker.

In the weeks after he went missing, police repeatedly asked the public to call in tips to help locate Gallizzi.

Remains were discovered in Preservation Park, near Edinburgh Road and Gordon Street, on Feb. 1.

"The body was located by some of our Guelph Police Service officers, following up on information they received as a result of the investigation," Tracey explained.

Police said they couldn’t immediately identify the person or the manner of their death.

Guelph police outside Preservation Park on Feb. 2, 2024. (Dave Pettitt/CTV Kitchener)

On Friday, police confirmed that the person they found was Gallizzi.

They did not share any further details about his cause of death.

"We're not commenting on that at this time because it is before the court, that will come out in the evidence in court," Tracey explained.

A 27-year-old Guelph man, who was not named, has been charged with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to a human body.

"We believe, and have evidence to suggest, that the death was intentional," Tracey said. "Indignity to a body is, essentially, not treating human remains with due respect and care after someone's death."

Police also said the two men knew each other.

"It was not a familial relationship," Tracey said. "They were certainly known to each other. They were not strangers in any way."

The accused is set to appear in a Guelph court on Saturday.