A Hamilton man has been arrested in connection with the 20-year-old homicide case of Patrick Santos, a 21-year-old whose body was found bound and asphyxiated in the backyard of his father’s Scarborough home in 2006. The breakthrough in this cold-case investigation was made possible through modern forensic technology.
Patrick Santos, the victim, was last heard from in the early hours of Sept. 17, 2006, speaking with his girlfriend after a night out at a downtown nightclub. His body was later discovered with severe trauma, marking Toronto’s 49th homicide of that year.
On July 29, 2026, Pierre O’Connor, 43, from Hamilton, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Santos’ killing. The investigation suggests the possibility of more than one person being involved in the murder.
DNA evidence collected at the crime scene in 2006 played a crucial role in identifying the suspect through Investigative Genetic Genealogy methods. The arrest of O’Connor after 20 years brings closure to Santos’ grieving loved ones, including his mother Juliet, who has been seeking justice for her son.
Keyphrase: Toronto police arrest man
