Officers are investigating a homicide following reports of body parts found in a dumpster near Donald Street at York Avenue Monday.
CTV News has learned officers have now shifted the focus of their investigation to the basement of an apartment building on Traverse Avenue in St. Boniface.
Winnipeg police have yet to confirm how the two locations are linked.
The apartment building is believed to be where a man was killed, dismembered and later dumped in a garbage bin.
"The circumstances we are dealing with, I will acknowledge, are very, very unique," said Const. Jason Michalyshen of Winnipeg police.
Officers remained reluctant Tuesday to confirm much information.
"Like in any investigation, there's always the potential and likelihood that the investigation is going to take us to other areas and to other locations," said Michalyshen.
The basement of the St. Boniface apartment building was taped off for most of the day on Tuesday. People living in the building said a man and woman lived in the basement, and they could often be heard fighting.
Police said they are still in the process of confirming the identity of the victim and notifying family. There is no word yet on how the individual died, and an autopsy is yet to be conducted.
It's not yet clear if the victim lived in the St. Boniface building or was visiting.
On Feb. 20 an employee of a restaurant near Donald and York called police after seeing what looked like two severed hands sticking out of the dumpster in downtown Winnipeg.
Police were seen looking in the dumpster and hours later officers removed a duffle bag from the scene.
"It's kind of disturbing to know that somebody got chopped up and thrown in a dumpster," said Mike Adrian, who lives in the area.
The homicide unit and identification section of the Winnipeg police are investigating the murder.
Early Tuesday, officers said they were interviewing potential witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Winnipeg police at 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.
- with a report from CTV's Caroline Barghout
