CANADA Canada - Sonia Varaschin, 42, Orangeville, 29 Aug 2010 - #3

[Gina20]

Detectives still say they’ll solve the murder of Orangeville nurse Sonia Varaschin. It’s been 10 years and counting

Police then said they had collected some 600 DNA samples from men 18 and older in the Orangeville area.

...

The OPP notes that technology has improved since the murder.

“Whatever new technology comes along, we’re on it,” Glassford said.

That includes a system now called Strmix, which has been called “game-changer” DNA forensic software.

...one of its strengths is that it lets investigators unravel DNA mixtures that had previously been considered too complex to unravel.

That could include cases when the blood of several people is mingled at a crime scene.

It could also include minute “touch DNA” found after surfaces like doorknobs are swabbed.​

I'm beginning to think that dear Sonia fought back hard. I hope so.

 

[2soccermom]

I haven't read thestar.com article -- but I feel hopeful by this and other info we've had this year. The reference to technology that can separate mixed profiles or pick up "trace" DNA seems really positive; we have had discussion on this (on separating mixed-profile DNA in Sonia's case) in this thread somewhat recently, and earlier on trace DNA -- especially in relation to the likelihood of fingerprints on the rearview mirror of Sonia's car -- as well. I wish LE would come out and specifically say they have sent DNA from Sonia's case to be analyzed by this technology rather than implying it -- but I get that LE leans strongly toward caution in information sharing. But as hopeful as this new tech is, I also feel some depression, since the need for such technology partially suggests, to me at least, that LE does not in fact have in hand already a viable DNA sample on its own to match against. This has been my very strong concern from the outset that the "we have your DNA" claim was a smoke-out to see who would be nervous/decline to give a sample. I still desperately hope I'm wrong on this. I do recognize there may be another way to read the use of the tech: that LE has DNA they have been matching the 600+ collected samples against, *as well as* a mixed sample that might yield a second+ perp's profile and thus increase the chances of matching once the second (or more) profile(s) is/are isolated. I fervently hope it's both....

We keep hearing that "somebody knows something" -- and I feel like this must be true. Just the right tip could solve this. But my fear is that it will take something awful happening to someone else; like many of us here, I don't believe Sonia is this perp's (or these perps') only victim. I'm not sure if there were others in past; I hope there aren't more in future.... I don't think LE has ever said specifically whether DNA links -- or excludes -- Sonia's case with Shelley Loder's, Audrey Gleaves', or any others speculated here and elsewhere. I'm not sure if that's because they don't have a viable DNA sample (yet) in the other two cases to match against. Again, I hope we have that sample in Sonia's -- even if it is yet to be established via the new tech. I will hold on to that as at least a strong possibility as we see the hard 11-year mark arrive.
There were three crime scenes in her case. I have to believe there was usable DNA located, or yet-extractable.

 

[Gina20]

Is Sonia's car still being held as evidence in the impound lot, or was it destroyed?

 

[Gina20]

I've tried to think of anything that we have not discussed. If anyone can answer these questions, please post.

Did police canvas construction businesses and construction suppliers in Orangeville as part of their investigation? In particular, did they canvas construction businesses close to Sonia's home? Did they inquire about workers for any such companies who suddenly left town after the murder, even if they were seasonally employed? Did they ask employees about any odd or memorable encounters with customers that summer?

 

[Gina20]

Here I thought Bolton, where Sonia spent her last day, was a nice, quiet little place. I stand corrected. It sure doesn't seem that way now. My mistake.

 

[Gina20]

A 41-year-old woman from Caledon has been found dead in a suitcase in Toronto.

Police identify woman found dead inside suitcase in Toronto

Sonia's murder, 11 years ago today, is not resolved.

 

[2soccermom]

Finally something is posted at this 11-year mark -- and yet, very sadly, there really isn't anything new here:
'Someone has the key' to solving brutal murder of Ontario nurse 11 years ago
We are reminded again that "someone has the key" -- so that seems like another call to folks with ANY information that could be relevant to CALL IT IN. Maybe it's something that doesn't seem obvious but sits in your gut uneasily.... Maybe someone is afraid to come forward. Remember you can call your tips in anonymously!

 

[2soccermom]

"
Any person having information regarding the person(s) responsible for the murder of Sonia VARASCHIN should communicate immediately with the Director of the Criminal Investigation Services, Ontario Provincial Police, at 1-888-310-1122 or Orangeville Police Services at (519) 941-2522, or their nearest police authority.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000. "
Ontario Provincial Police

 

[2soccermom]

" 'Investigators continue to seek the one piece of information that will lead to an arrest,' the Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Monday. 'Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to contact the OPP.'

'Eleven years later, someone has the key.' "
-- 'Someone has the key' to solving brutal murder of Ontario nurse 11 years ago

 

[Lexiintoronto]

I’ve written this in another thread, but I think this applies to this case..

I’ve followed a cold case of a missing young lady who is presumed to have been murdered. (Her car with her blood was found.)

The cold case officer working on her investigation said the key to solving her case would be an advancement in science or a change in relationships. He believes that the killer may have had an accomplice or a confidant at the time of the murder, and now they are estranged. He appealed to them to step forward.

I feel the same thing applies to Sonia’s murder(s).(My opinion only.)

 

[Gina20]

" 'Investigators continue to seek the one piece of information that will lead to an arrest,' the Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Monday. 'Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is asked to contact the OPP.'

'Eleven years later, someone has the key.' "
-- 'Someone has the key' to solving brutal murder of Ontario nurse 11 years ago

Is this the beginning of the forgetting? Sonia deserves better. Sonia's family and friends deserve answers. I had hoped we'd get an update on the DNA analysis that is in the works, but no. Has that actually happened, or not? Was it just appeasement?

I am also reminded of a mother who never stopped being a thorn in the side of the police after her young daughter was murdered. Shari Greer never gave up.

Here's to Sonia, and the people in her life who will never give up and never forget her. Roses have thorns, and they are beautiful.

 

[2soccermom]

I'm hoping there's more info coming.... Hope we're not all going to be let down (again) this year. I know it's tough for LE; I know the officers close to her case want to solve this as much as we want them to. I'm not blaming them -- but my word! What will it take?

My heart goes out to Sonia's friends and family at this especially hard time. I'm sure they are good supports for each other. But I can only imagine how hard it must be.

Let's see some justice before the end of 2021!

 

[2soccermom]

Basically same info at OPP looking for public assistance in 11-year-old murder | The Bay Observer
Both media outlets reference an OPP "news release" today. I can't find anything first-hand from the OPP, only the journo references to it. (I wouldn't expect anything substantive, given the paucity of info in both articles. But still.)

 

[jash]

Basically same info at OPP looking for public assistance in 11-year-old murder | The Bay Observer

Both media outlets reference an OPP "news release" today. I can't find anything first-hand from the OPP, only the journo references to it. (I wouldn't expect anything substantive, given the paucity of info in both articles. But still.)

Looks like members of the media have direct access to OPP press releases. Strange that they're not made available to the general public. OPP News Portal

 

[Bobbi Pearl]

Looks like members of the media have direct access to OPP press releases. Strange that they're not made available to the general public. OPP News Portal

Maybe just for this site, it is the site for " Press Releases" and by definition, press releases are an official statement issued to newspapers giving information on a particular matter. Possibly there is another avenue for the general public?

 

[2soccermom]

In the absence of new info, I was re-reading some earlier pages and wanted to re-post sillybilly's thoughts from page 18 here:

Not saying this perp is or is not an SK, but here's what Psychology Today has to say wrt the MOs of serial killers:

from Serial Killers: Modus Operandi, Signature, Staging & Posing

So while Sonia's case may not be the work of a serial killer, the moving of the body would seem to indicate an organized killer rather than disorganized.
JMO

Also: I wish we could know if Sonia's murder was a "stand-alone" crime OR connected to other cases, some about which we have speculated previously here. If only one of the neighbours facing Sonia's front door had had cameras! We pretty much know he took her down the front steps.....

It has been incredibly hard to see the 11th-year mark come ... and pass ... and still no justice.

I know there are ethical issues related to privacy (and abuse of privacy) but I so wish there were camera or satellite images in so many of these cases that could assist investigators. How is it that after all this time it's still so hard to get some resolution?????

 

[Gina20]

Detective who solved Holly Jones murder reveals what sharp-eyed officers noticed in killer's apartment

I am posting this article about the murder of Holly Jones in Toronto for what it reveals about DNA sampling.

It might not have been the first time mass DNA sampling was used in Canada to find a murderer, but it's the first one I remember. It's interesting to note why the police did it (stranger abduction, no leads) and what they were looking for. Not only was it the killer's refusal to provide a cheek swab that put him under suspicion, police observed other things, like green carpet and the smell of bleach. Then they followed the suspect and obtained DNA from a discarded beverage container. The suspect's DNA had been found on the victim, whose remains were discovered the next day, washed ashore. As in so many cases, a dog and his owner made the discovery.

The killer had been watching the police as they investigated the crime across the street from his residence.

Obviously, this killer might never have been found if he had been just passing through the neighborhood, thereby gone before the DNA teams arrived on his doorstep.

 

[Gina20]

I'm not going to give up on Sonia's murderer being brought to justice. Here's why:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...coll-murder-trial-closing-arguments-1.6195702

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...nd-degree-murder-verdict-trial-jury-1.6197262

It took 19 years, but this man was found guilty of second-degree murder. There are some similarities to Sonia's case: an abandoned vehicle, a sheet missing from her bed, and the victim found deceased in a rural ditch, covered with the missing sheet. Her killer fled across the country and probably thought he got away with it. Not so. This is what happens when investigators never give up.

IMO, everyone suspected him from the beginning. It took this long to build the case against him.

 

[whiterhino]

Detective who solved Holly Jones murder reveals what sharp-eyed officers noticed in killer's apartment

I am posting this article about the murder of Holly Jones in Toronto for what it reveals about DNA sampling.

It might not have been the first time mass DNA sampling was used in Canada to find a murderer, but it's the first one I remember. It's interesting to note why the police did it (stranger abduction, no leads) and what they were looking for. Not only was it the killer's refusal to provide a cheek swab that put him under suspicion, police observed other things, like green carpet and the smell of bleach. Then they followed the suspect and obtained DNA from a discarded beverage container. The suspect's DNA had been found on the victim, whose remains were discovered the next day, washed ashore. As in so many cases, a dog and his owner made the discovery.

The killer had been watching the police as they investigated the crime across the street from his residence.

Obviously, this killer might never have been found if he had been just passing through the neighborhood, thereby gone before the DNA teams arrived on his doorstep.

I remember this little girl!!!

Something about Hollys' case reminds me of this one: Silver Alert - AZ - Alicia Navarro, 14, autistic, Glendale, 16 Sep 2019

 

[dotr]

A 41-year-old woman from Caledon has been found dead in a suitcase in Toronto.

Police identify woman found dead inside suitcase in Toronto

Sonia's murder, 11 years ago today, is not resolved.

Often it seems that a victim's body is moved from Toronto to Caledon and not the other way around, imo, speculation.

Ws threads..
Identified! - Canada - Toronto (Keele/Rodgers) ,Body found by Plaza dumpster, 25 Aug 2021 - Varsha Gajula

Found Deceased - Canada - Kera Freeland, 20, pregnant, Toronto, March 2011 *Arrest*

ETA, interesting- this old news item references both Sonia and Kera's murders..
Jan 2013

rbbm.
Will arrest in nurse's slaying be next? | Calgary Sun
''Wonder if Sonia Varaschin's brutal killer follows the Toronto Sun on Twitter?
The man arrested Thursday in Calgary and accused of Kera Freeland's murder does.
It's not unusual for killers on the lam to keep up on social media.
Russell Williams did. The disgraced former colonel was a regular on police and media websites looking at whatever clues may be offered.
Luka Magnotta was also keeping up with the investigation in the murder of Lin Jun while he was in Paris before his arrest last year.
When you are allegedly trying to hide something that heinous it only makes common sense to keep one eye on the door.
When you are out there free, it's always good to keep up on what might be going on with a case you can be sure has not been forgotten by police.
With today's technology it's just a matter of time before the knock on the door comes.''
So when's it going to be the turn Varaschin's killer? The 42-year-old nurse was viciously murdered in her Orangeville home three years ago this summer.

What is your name? Where are you?

Like in the Freeland case, there's a feeling that someone is getting away with murder.

But the game is never over.

Varaschin's killer has got to be wondering when an OPP officer like Sgt. Jim Smyth might drop by for a chat?
Or if this has already happened, the killer is only left to wonder.
In Varaschin's case, there are three crime scenes and the word passion was used to describe what kind of killing it was.
It can't be easy to sleep. Three crime scenes surely provided the crime lab specialists something to run through their computer.
"It's very complex and very active," Leon said. "We don't close the books on these until we find the person responsible."
Keep reading the Toronto Sun, Sonia's killer, because we are going to stay on it too.''