Based on coverage from CBC, Global News, Toronto Star, CP24, and Toronto Sun.
A missing-teen case that started in Brampton has ended in northern Saskatchewan with RCMP now calling it a homicide.
Saskatchewan RCMP say human remains found near Pelican Narrows, Sask., have been identified as 16-year-old Jay’siiah Webb-Long. Webb-Long was reported missing more than a year ago, after travelling from Ontario to the remote northern community.
Pelican Narrows Saskatchewan remains identified
RCMP say officers found the remains May 13 during what police describe as a “planned search” near Pelican Narrows, a community in Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. One RCMP account places Pelican Narrows about 420 kilometres north of Saskatoon, while other reports describe it as more than 500 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon.
An autopsy was conducted May 15, and police have since confirmed the remains are Webb-Long’s. RCMP have not released a cause of death, and they have not announced any arrests or charges.
Brampton teen Jay’siiah Webb-Long timeline
Webb-Long was originally from Brampton. Investigators say he left Ontario in March 2025 and ended up in Pelican Narrows, where police believe he had been living.
The missing persons report was filed by his family with Peel Regional Police in April 2025. In a previous RCMP release, police said Webb-Long was last in contact with family on May 16, 2025, communicating over social media.
By July 2025, Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes had taken over the file, and police began describing the disappearance as suspicious.
RCMP homicide investigation and planned search
This week, Saskatchewan RCMP said the case is now being treated as a homicide. The force’s Homicide Investigation Unit is leading the investigation.
Police say they previously tracked down an address in Pelican Narrows where they believed Webb-Long had been staying. When officers attended, they were told he had evacuated due to wildfires. (That detail is part of why police viewed the situation as suspicious, according to RCMP accounts.)
RCMP also warned local residents they may continue to see a heavier police presence in and around Pelican Narrows while investigators look for evidence.
Family reaction and community advocate support
Webb-Long’s mother, Shenice Long, previously told CBC she was shocked when she learned her son had been traced to Pelican Narrows, saying she had no family or connections there. She also described how Webb-Long’s younger siblings kept asking about him, and how the family worked to keep his missing-persons poster circulating on social media.
The Toronto Star reports community advocate Shana McCalla was with the family when police visited their Brampton home to update them. McCalla told the Star the family had been planning to travel to Saskatchewan this summer to search and raise awareness, still hoping Webb-Long would be found alive. McCalla also raised concerns that the case resembles others where youth are lured away from home, though police have not publicly confirmed any motive or circumstances around how Webb-Long got to Saskatchewan.
How to contact Saskatchewan RCMP
Saskatchewan RCMP are asking anyone with information about Webb-Long’s disappearance or death to contact police at 310-RCMP (or 1-306-780-5563 from outside Saskatchewan). Tips can also be provided anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
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