Body of Crypto Influencer Found in Montreal Park
The body of 25-year-old Kevin Mirshahi, a cryptocurrency influencer, was found in Montreal’s Île-de-la-Visitation Park-a case now being called Montreal’s 32nd homicide of 2024. Mirshahi had been missing since June, an influencer in crypto communities that raised much concern among his followers and family members. The Sûreté du Québec has confirmed the finding, which ends the many-month-long search that had captured the interest of the public eye.
Timeline of Mirshahi’s disappearance and discovery
Mirshahi disappeared June 21 in an alleged kidnapping from a condominium building in the Old Port of Montreal. Shortly after dawn that morning, police responded to a 911 call regarding a disturbance inside a residence near the intersection of de la Commune and St-Hubert Streets, from where he and three others were kidnapped. Though the rest of the kidnapped individuals were found sooner, Them was reported missing, and the case was forwarded to the Sûreté du Québec to become more active in the search.
In late summer, the body of Mirshahi in decay was found by a passerby in a place known as Île-de-la-Visitation Park, northeast of Montreal. Confirming his identity, the autopsy left so many questions about the life he lived towards his death and what motive might have resulted in his death.
Suspect Arrested in Relation to Case
The police investigation led to the arrest of a 32-year-old woman from Les Cèdres, Quebec, named Joanie Lepage. She was charged this August with first-degree murder and abduction; police believe she might have helped hide the body of Mirshahi. Investigators say though they have one suspect, the investigation is not closed yet, as they are following other leads too.
Mirshahi’s Background and Crypto Influence
Mirshahi was known in Montreal’s cryptocurrency community primarily under the private investment firm “Crypto Paradise Island.” His notoriety meant he was as loved as he was hated. The AMF, or Quebec’s financial regulator, in 2021 put restrictions on Mirshahi, barring him and two associates from giving advice on investments or negotiating securities transactions. The ban had been renewed just this last July 2024, further delimiting his social media activities, following his disappearance.
A Growing Pattern of Crypto-Related Crime in Canada
The case against Mirshahi forms part of an alarming trend within Canada’s crypto industry. On November 6, WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was kidnapped in Toronto and later released after a $1 million ransom was paid-a sign of how vulnerable public figures could get within crypto.
