Majeed “Hamid” Kayhan, Abdulbasir Faizi and Skandaraj “Skanda” Navaratnam were all targets of Project Houston, a task force set up in November 2012 to investigate their disappearances. Kayhan and Navaratnam were also alleged targets of gay Toronto alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur. Project Houston did not find any evidence that the men were murdered, and therefore McArthur was never a suspect.
Kayhan, 58, was last seen on October 14, 2012 near Yonge and Alexander Streets and was reported missing by his son ten days later.
Kayhan’s double life was part of the difficulty police had in tracking his whereabouts. It was reported in media that Kayhan lived with a man part-time in the Gay Village, at the City Park Cooperative at 484 Church St.
In 2017, the police set up a new task force, Project Prism, to find these three missing men, and others. On January 29, 2018, police announced that McArthur was facing charges of first-degree murder against Kayhan.
As of March 2018, McArthur, 66, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of eight men. McArthur is currently on suicide watch.
February 2019 Update: Bruce McArthur pleaded guilty to 8 counts of murder, for:
- Andrew Kinsman
- Selim Esen
- Dean Lisowick
- Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam
- Soroush Mahmudi
- Majeed “Hamid” Kayhan
- Abdulbasir Faizi
- Skandaraj “Skanda” Navaratnam
He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. Please see our post on What is a “Life Sentence” in Canada for an explanation on the complexity of murder sentences in Canada.
Murder Village Map
Vital Statistics
Name: Majeed “Hamid” Kayhan
Age: 58
Gender: Male
Date of Death: October 14, 2012 (estimate)
Manner of Death: unknown at this time
Location: unknown at this time
Suspect Name: Bruce McArthur
Conviction & Sentence: Life in prison, with no chance of parole for 25 years