Missing 81-year-old Mississauga man found dead in Milton

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Published September 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm

An 81-year-old Mississauga man who went missing from his home after going out cycling last Friday has been found dead in Milton. 

Halton Regional Police said early this afternoon that while the coroner has yet to determine cause of death, the body of a cyclist found in a ditch this morning on Lower Base Line in Milton appears to be that of Ignatio Viana. 

Peel Regional Police, who have been searching for Viana for six days, have subsequently confirmed the body is that of the Mississauga man.

Police say there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body, which appears to have been in the ditch, about 10 kilometres from Viana’s Erin Mills home, for a while. They’re now appealing for witnesses in case anyone saw or may have seen Viana and what happened to him. 

The grisly discovery comes after Viana’s niece and wife of 52 years released a video on social media pleading with the public to help them find the avid cyclist, described as being extremely fit, mentally sharp and “not your average 81-year-old man.” 

Viana left his Erin Mills Pkwy./Folkway Dr. area home for what was supposed to be a short bike ride last Friday morning, and when he didn’t return by the afternoon, his family became worried. 

His niece said they weren’t initially worried as Viana was known to cycle 50 kilometres on any given day, and the weather was perfect for a bike ride last Friday. 

“We gave him extra time because it was a beautiful day, in case he got enthusiastic, but when he didn’t show up by afternoon, we got really worried,” said his niece. 

(Google Map image in story shows one possible route from the Erin Mills Pkwy./Folkway Dr. area to Lower Base Line in Milton, where Viana was found)

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