One of the victims of last week’s triple homicide at a Scarborough home died of strangulation, Toronto police revealed Monday.

Autopsy results show the female victim, who was found by police Thursday afternoon inside a garage in the back of a home on Lawndale Rd., died of ligature strangulation, Det. Sgt. Mike Carbone told reporters at Toronto police headquarters Monday.

The two other male victims both died from what police described Monday as stabbing injuries: One man, whose body was also found inside the garage, died from a crossbow-bolt stab wound to the neck, while the other male victim, discovered on the driveway near the garage, died from a single arrowhead stab wound to the neck.

However, citing the upcoming trial, Carbone would not provide any details about the two men’s deaths, including whether the crossbow was shot, or if the projectiles were actually used as stabbing weapons. He did say the men were not killed by the same crossbow bolt.

“Our role right now is to try and find out what set this off,” said Carbone, providing an update on what he called a “very, very unusual investigation.”

Brett Ryan, 35, of Toronto, is facing three counts of first-degree murder. Carbone said police have “sufficient and significant” evidence to show the killings were premeditated.

Carbone confirmed that Ryan was one of two men who were taken from the crime scene to the hospital with unknown injuries. Both were treated and released.

The other man, whose name has not been disclosed, was “in close proximity” to the crime scene. Police are still investigating whether charges will be laid in connection to his injuries.

Ryan made a brief appearance court Friday and was ordered to remain in custody until his next court appearance on Sept. 2.

The accused has a criminal history of bank robbery and was dubbed “the bearded bandit” in 2009 after pleading guilty to eight counts of robbery and eight counts of disguise with intent to commit an indictable offence. Court records show Ryan carried out the robbery spree wearing a false beard and bandages on his face.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison. Carbone said he was not aware of any police contact with Ryan after he was released from jail and before Thursday’s homicides.

The identities of the three homicide victims are under a court-ordered publication ban. Despite the exceedingly unusual decision to keep the names of the victims secret, no justification for the publication ban was given by either the Crown lawyer or the Justice of the Peace when it was put in place Friday.

The Toronto Star and other media will be challenging the ban in court Tuesday morning. Crown lawyers are also seeking to have the publication ban lifted Tuesday.

As reported in the Star on Friday, a police source said that investigators believe the victims and the alleged attacker were relatives.

The bodies of the three victims were discovered just before 1 p.m. Thursday, after police responded to a report of a stabbing at a home near Kingston Rd. and Markham Rd.

Just two hours later, as police were investigating Ryan’s home at an upscale downtown condominium, officers discovered a suspicious package inside the unit and called in the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive team. Residents inside the Queens Quay building were ordered to evacuate.

Carbone said the officers’ decision to call in the specialized unit was “quite appropriate,” but stressed that at no time was there a danger to the public. He did not confirm the contents of the package.

“I will not get into the specifics as to what was located in there. There were certain items in the dwelling . . . It certainly now makes up part of this investigation,” he said.

Carbone said the investigation is in the early stages; police are reviewing surveillance video and forensics investigators are still examining the scene of the crime and Ryan’s condo unit.

Recap:

Investigators are looking to speak to anyone who may have spoken to the accused between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 25, and are asking anyone with information to contact police or CrimeStoppers.

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Ryan, investigators add, may have been attending a local university, though Carbone did not specify which institution.

Social media profiles show Ryan was engaged and due to be married in the Hamilton area next month.

With files from Vjosa Isai