Remains found in Sydney confirmed to be those of Justin MacDonald
Police in Cape Breton confirm remains discovered earlier this week near Morley Road have been identified as those of Justin MacDonald.
The Cape Breton Reginal Police says the Medical Examiner's Officer has competed work and autopsy results also confirm MacDonald was the victim of a homicide.
Justin MacDonald's father, Ken MacDonald, told CTV News Wednesday that he and a friend found his son's remains while searching the Morley Road area in Sydney, N.S., on Monday afternoon.
'We were just looking for anything. He said, 'I think I see a sandal' and when we matched it up I said, 'That's Justin's,'' said Ken MacDonald.
Justin MacDonald
Ken and Peggy MacDonald hold a picture of their son Justin on May 28, 2025. (CTV Atlantic / Ryan MacDonald)
MacDonald and his wife Peggy have been out searching almost every day since their son was last seen. He says they found the remains not far from where they found the sandal and contacted police.
'We saw his shirt and I saw the skull and I searched around, and then emotions took over and I called police right away,' said MacDonald.
'Justin's birthday is this Saturday. He would be 35. It was a long road. We're almost a year, it was a long road and now we get to bring him home.'
Police said they were called to the Morley Road area around 5 p.m. Monday. As of Thursday, the scene has been cleared by police.
Kenneth 'Justin' MacDonald, 34, was last seen on surveillance footage at the Irving gas station on Commercial Street in North Sydney, N.S., on July 7, 2024. He was reported missing the next day.
Investigators found his vehicle, a blue Kia Forte, roughly 25 kilometers away in the Ormand Crescent area of Mira Road on July 10.
Police announced in November 2024 they were treating his disappearance as a homicide.
Three men were arrested and charged in December 2024 in connection with MacDonald's disappearance and murder.
Aaron Curtis Mickey, 45, was charged with second-degree murder, robbery and four firearm-related offences.
Ryan Joseph Pyke, 36, was charged with second-degree murder and robbery.
Mitchell McPhee, 38, was charged with manslaughter, robbery and assault.
In January, police issued a public plea for help in finding MacDonald's remains.
Investigators have previously said MacDonald's death was an isolated incident and not a random act.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald and Andrea Jerrett
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
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