Chris Helgren/Reuters A police vehicle is parked next to the

TORONTO — Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation into the deaths of billionaire and his wife Honey after autopsies revealed the couple died from "ligature neck compression," Toronto police said Sunday night. Police issued a brief statement, but refused to comment further about the deaths of the couple, who were found in their Toronto home on Friday. "That is what the post-mortem indicates and that is the terminology that they give us,'' Const. Michelle Flannery said when asked to elaborate on findings from autopsies performed over the weekend.

Chris Helgren / Reuters One of two bodies is removed from the home of billionaire founder of Canadian pharmaceutical firm Apotex Inc., Barry Sherman and his wife Honey, who were found dead under circumstances that police described as "suspicious" in Toronto on Dec. 15, 2017.

The statement said homicide detectives have taken the lead on investigating the deaths, which have been classified as "suspicious.'' Homicide detectives have been involved in the investigation since Friday. The statement contained no other details, except to formally identify the Shermans as the two people found dead in a Toronto home on Friday. Previously, police refused to confirm the identities, although they had been identified by a number of political and business leaders. Sherman, 75, was the founder of pharmaceutical giant Apotex. He started the company in 1974 and grew it into the largest Canadian-owned drug company. Canadian Business magazine recently assessed his fortune at $4.77 billion, making him the 15th richest person in the country.

Toronto Star via Getty Images File photo of Barry Sherman. The Apotex founder and his wife Honey were found dead in their Toronto home on Dec. 15, 2017.