As municipal workers drained a pond in southeast London to help police search for evidence in the killing of Josephine (Josie) Glenn, details emerged Monday about her last hours and her involvement in the city’s sex trade.

Glenn’s remains were found Friday at 252 South Leaksdale Circle in the Summerside subdivision, five days after she was last seen in east London.

An online advertisement appears to shed light on Glenn’s activities before she disappeared.

The ad, featuring photos of a lingerie-clad Glenn, said she was working at an east-end body-rub parlour just hours before she was last seen alive.

The post to the online classified site backpage.com, at 11:22 p.m. on Oct. 21, indicated Glenn would be at Sweet City at 609 Clarke Rd.



Josie Glenn

The 26-year-old was last seen at Clarke Road at Culver Drive, just one block from the massage parlour, about 3 a.m. Sunday, London police said in a missing person appeal Oct. 23.

Glenn worked at the massage parlour under the name Sabrina, according to the ad.

Attendants working at Sweet City declined to speak to a reporter Monday. The business offers services — costing between $70 and $160 an hour — that include massages, shower shows, fetish and domination.

Glenn’s death shocked the close-knit community of sex workers who are members of a grassroots collective called Safe Space London.

“The community of Safe Space is grieving the loss of a friend and community member,” the group said in a statement. “This is raw for us and we are devastated by the loss. . . . Sex work isn’t what harmed Josie. It was . . . society, and laws/by-laws that make it less safe and less open to do this work.”

Many factors contribute to violence against sex workers, Safe Space said.

“A predator is a predator and will go for those they have seen society cast aside and dehumanize. Respecting the human rights of sex workers starts with considering sex workers to be human beings regardless of external factors including what they do to earn money. The sex work community is grieving.”

“Efforts to speak for or de-legitimize sex work continuously puts workers in danger. This is about life and death and not an agenda,” Safe Space said.

Police wouldn’t confirm that Glenn’s involvement in the sex trade.

Investigators probing Glenn’s death — London’s fourth homicide of the year — remained at the South Leakside Circle home where her remains were found and where the 25-year-old London man accused in her slaying was arrested.

Police also returned to a stormwater pond in Meadowgate Park next to the Summerside subdivision. Officers had scoured the pond with metal detectors over the weekend. The marine unit was also at the scene.

Police called in city workers to drain the pond that was created to collect runoff from rain.

“At this time, we continue to search for evidence in relation to this investigation,” police spokesperson Const. Sandasha Bough said.

Meanwhile Oluwatobi Boyede, the man accused of killing Glenn, was scheduled to appear Monday in court.

Boyede is charged with second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a human body.

It’s unclear how Boyede and Glenn knew each other. Police released few details about the investigation, including whether a weapon had been retrieved, citing a publication ban placed on the case.

The two-storey home where Glenn’s remains were found is owned by Olufemi Boyede, according to city tax records.

One of three children, Glenn was described by friends as a talented singer who enjoyed cooking, going to the gym, doing her makeup, shopping and dressing up.

A friend said Glenn had worked at the Dollar Store in Argyle Mall and then at Penningtons clothing store.

“She was a very beautiful girl, always good-hearted. I could be down to my last penny and she would help me out,” said Susan Husband, a close friend of Glenn’s and a former neighbour. “She was like a daughter to me.”

Her family couldn’t be reached for comment Monday.

- with files from Free Press Reporter Randy Richmond

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

twitter.com/DaleatLFPress

2017 homicides

Jan. 6: Matthew Perry, 24, plunged to his death from a fourth-floor window of a King Street apartment. Six men and two women charged with manslaughter.

April 29: Cab driver Vijay Bhatia, 64, beaten to death in Wonderland Road parking lot. Cody Perkin charged with second-degree murder.

Oct. 2: Raymond Beaver, 42, stabbed to death during a home invasion at his Lansdowne Avenue residence. Three men and one woman charged with first-degree murder.