The Cherokee bag, top, and the Lynx bag held as evidence in the case (Toronto Police Service)
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Toronto police were continuing to search for 10-year-old Holly Jones’s killer Wednesday morning but have so far turned up no suspects.
"I wish I had more to tell you. I don't. We are working very very hard to find the killer," Toronto Police Services Staff Inspector Gary Ellis told a press conference Wednesday morning.
He said several tips had come in to police over the morning and "we are not ruling anything out."
Divers were in the waters of Lake Ontario at daylight and combing the shores after parts of the girl's body were found in bags in the lake on Tuesday, about 24 hours after she went missing walking home from a friend's house in her west-end neighbourhood Monday night.
The investigation was declared a murder investigation Tuesday.
As well, the city's mounted unit and other units were searching the streets near the waterfront and near Holly's west-end home.
At a press conference later Wednesday morning, police released photographs of two bags that were found on Tuesday.
They were of two bags, one, a black Lynx gym bag, and the other, a Cherokee black carry-on suitcase, found by police. Police are asking people to call police if they saw someone carrying such baggage on Monday night.
They have set up a special line at 416-808-8390 for people to call in any tips.
Police were also questioning about 200 witnesses, including a neighbour who lives in a basement apartment a few doors away from Holly in the Dundas Street West and Bloor Street area.
"We believe we are getting closer," Staff Insp. Ellis said.Constable Shehara Valles of the Toronto Police Service told globeandmail.com Wednesday tip lines had been staffed all night but could not say how many calls came in.
The case has gained international interest, another police officer said, adding that calls have come in from all over the world.
Constable Valles said police are asking parent to be “very vigilant with their children” in light of the crime.
“This is a very tragic crime. We want parents to be aware of their child’s whereabouts at all times, and be more observant,” she said.
On Monday, Holly had been at a friend’s house after school. The friend’s mother offered to walk her home, but Holly declined. It was 6:30 p.m.
Three hours later, Holly was still not home. Her worried parents called police, who launched one of the largest searches for a missing child in the city’s history. Hundreds of officers from across the city searched the neighbourhood, going door to door, through back alleys, over bridges, along railway tracks and into parks.
The first body part, her torso, was discovered by a man walking his dog about 8 a.m. Tuesday off Wards Island along the Toronto waterfront.
At midmorning, the search was expanded across Ontario. Deputy Chief Steve Reesor issued an Amber Alert, called when it is believed a child has met with harm.
While police were finding more body parts, Holly’s parents were pleading for her safe return. They were told Tuesday afternoon by police that Holly was dead. In her west-end neighbourhood Tuesday evening, children and adults gathered near the home of her mother, Maria Jones, and mourned the death of a “beautiful little girl.”
Staff Insp. Ellis said that he had spoken to Holly's parents Wednesday and they were extremely distraught.
With a report from Gay Abbate
