York Regional Police have charged a man with second-degree murder after the remains of a missing woman from Markham were discovered about 90 minutes north of the city. The remains, identified as 57-year-old Ying Zhang, were found in a garbage bin in the City of Kawartha Lakes by officers searching for her. Zhang was last seen on the morning of July 25 near Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road, where she worked at a wellness center. Her family reported her missing when she didn’t return home from work that evening.
Police noted that a white van and a suspect with a green garbage bin were seen in the area around the time Zhang disappeared. Information led them to search the City of Kawartha Lakes, where the remains were found. On July 29, police arrested 26-year-old Changlin Yang of East Gwillimbury, Ontario, initially charging him with kidnapping, forcible confinement, and aggravated assault. These charges have now been escalated to second-degree murder. The police believe the killing was targeted but have not yet identified a motive. They are urging anyone with further information to contact investigators.
