The body found in an icy pond in Markham has been identified as Taneesha Brown.

The coroner’s office officially confirmed her identity Saturday, according to a York Regional Police spokesperson.

York police search and rescue officers spotted the body trapped under ice in a pond near Edward Jeffreys Ave. and Highway 48 on Saturday morning, while conducting a ground search for the missing 25-year-old, last seen on Jan. 12.

The pond is not far from where Brown last appeared on surveillance footage at Bur Oak Secondary School, shortly after leaving a relative’s house.

Police say Brown was at a home near McCowan Rd. and Castlemore Ave. on the night of her disappearance. She told family members she was stepping out for some fresh air at about 10:30 p.m. and left 15 minutes later.

She was wearing only a white, knee-length dashiki, white pants underneath, and her hijab. The wind-chill that night dropped to -13 C.

Clothing found at the scene was similar to that description, Supt. Fred Moffatt said.

“She never had a jacket on,” her father, Uriel Brown, told reporters at a news conference on Jan. 14.

Taneesha, who was living with an aunt when she went missing, suffered from a form of bipolar disorder, according to her father.

The surveillance footage shows a man, who police later confirmed was a teacher at Bur Oak Secondary, having a short conversation with Brown.

Police, who have spoken with the man, say Brown told him she was going on a “journey.”

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Brown’s mother came from Thunder Bay to assist in the search, and was notified along with the rest of Brown’s family of the discovery.

Anyone with information is asked to contact York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7541 or Crime Stoppers.

With files from Brennan Doherty

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