UMVA has learned that a disturbing case of homicide has unfolded in the suburbs of Toronto, with a man charged in connection to the tragic disappearance and death of a 45-year-old father.
Roman Perelstein, a resident of Richmond Hill, vanished on August 30, 2022, after being last seen several weeks earlier in the area of Bathurst St. and Orchard Heights Blvd. in Aurora. His family raised the alarm when he failed to return home.
Days before Perelstein's disappearance, on August 21, 2022, human remains were discovered along a trail in Pickering, near Sideline 20 and Concession Rd. 8. The condition of the remains made identification impossible at the time.
Perelstein was described as a white male with distinctive features: brown eyes and hair, four missing upper teeth, a dental prosthesis, a height of 6-foot-2, and a medium build. He also had a tattoo on his right shoulder with the dates "02.25.35 – 07.01.18" and a surgical scar on his knee.
Months of uncertainty followed until March 2025, when dental records led investigators to confirm that the remains were those of Perelstein. The cause of death was subsequently deemed a homicide, sending shockwaves through the community.
After a painstaking investigation, Suren Khizguiiaev, 49, of Harwich, was charged on May 21, 2026, with accessory after the fact to murder and indignity to a dead body. Authorities stress that the investigation is ongoing, and more information is needed to bring justice to Perelstein's family.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the York Regional Police Cold Case Section at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6000, or email coldcase@yrp.ca. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or through their website.
