Article content continued

Photo by Toronto police

Police were able to identify Kanagaratnam after taking what Idsinga called a “last resort” and releasing a photo where he appeared to be dead. In the photo, Kanagaratnam’s head is tilted back as if he were laying on the ground, his face appears swollen and his eyes are closed. Idsinga said at the time that “artifacts” were removed from the photo. Photoshop tools such as the eraser tool, smudge tool and and spot healing brush tool were each used more than 50 times, according to a Post analysis of the metadata.

The Post has chosen to no longer publish the photo out of respect for Kanagaratnam.

Police received more than 500 tips after releasing the photo and whittled the list of identities down to 70 potential names last Wednesday. After receiving assistance from an unnamed international government agency, Idsinga said police were able to identify the victim.

But even after widely publishing the photo, Kanagaratnam’s name wasn’t one that police were closely eyeing in relation to the tips. Kanagaratnam wasn’t reported missing in Canada or in Sri Lanka, Idsinga said, and there is no evidence linking him to the Gay Village in Toronto. Each of the other victims and McArthur himself have ties to the LGBTQ community.

“He doesn’t quite fit the profile of what we’ve seen before,” Idsinga said.

The Post reported in March that McArthur, according to source close to the investigation, changed his pattern when it came to targeting potential victims after being interviewed as a witness in the disappearance of Skandaraj Navaratnam — a man who would later be identified as a victim. McArthur, the source said, began to target men whom he had no links to and who fewer people would notice missing.