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

[dotr]

I always thought Dellen Millard and possibly Mark Smich were involved although I’m not sure they knew each other back then. It is interesting to note that Dellen Millard turned 25 years old on Aug. 30th 2010. I believe he was familiar with the Caledon area from his Brampton flight club days as a younger kid but this is just my guess.

Welcome to Ws Pepperman, nice catch regarding DM's birthday!

 

[Deleted member 102539]

I always thought Dellen Millard and possibly Mark Smich were involved although I’m not sure they knew each other back then. It is interesting to note that Dellen Millard turned 25 years old on Aug. 30th 2010. I believe he was familiar with the Caledon area from his Brampton flight club days as a younger kid but this is just my guess.

DM and SV could have met on a dateline, as both were on one of these. DM and MS could have had a connection to the very loud young folks near Sonia's home. Though nothing was stolen from Sonia, afaik, not even her car.
-.-.-
Apropos Caledon:
ANALYSIS: Why is Caledon a dumping ground for urban criminals?
-.-.-
Apropos Millard/Smich:
Google:
Millard and Smich were introduced around 2006. Friends described their friendship as initially one-sided: "Mark worshipped Dell, but Dell hated him". By 2011, they had grown closer, and in 2012 Smich and his girlfriend MM moved into the basement suite of the Millard family house.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

The video of the gazebo shows 2 men, it seems. Has it ever been determined from the video, how tall the people are?

 

[whiterhino]

LE should release a clip of the speeding car. How can the public help if they don't release the information?

Even when the gazebo clip is slowed down it's difficult to tell how tall the men are (one looks bald Imo and one seems to have something over their shoulder like a shirt).

It looks like the railing is above their waist. I think there are building safety "rules" for things like this, meaning railings are supposed to be placed at a certain height for safety. Then again, I can't seem to locate where the gazebo was/is supposed to be. From the video, it seems to be near one of the parking lots and there appears to be a townhouse in the background to the right.

Could the people in the gazebo be some of the tenants from the "noisy" unit referred to in articles? It would be great to see the full video, from when they first walk up into the gazebo and to know how long they hung around for.

 

[jash]

I just finished watching Crime Beat: Who Killed Sonia on Global TV. (will be posted here eventually -- Free full episodes of Crime Beat on GlobalTV.com | Cast photos, gossip and news from Crime Beat)

Her mother was interviewed and said some interesting things. Sonia had recently purchased a "nightgown" for her own birthday (sounds like lingerie) and she was found wearing it. Her mother does not think Sonia would have answered a knock at the door wearing it.

Sonia's mother also seems to be suspicious of Sonia's boyfriend IR. You all probably know all of this but he had a wife and kids back in England, and when Sonia found out, he asked her not to tell her parents. When he told Sonia he was moving back to England she was upset. Earlier in the day on which she went missing, Sonia spoke with her mother and mentioned IR was mad about some issues he was having selling his furniture (in preparation for his move). Sonia would normally call her mother before she went to bed, but that night she did not.

Sonia's mother said IR claimed he was going back to England to live with his sister but he was actually going back to his wife. She said when Sonia was missing and eventually found, he was always at Sonia's parents house "listening and watching". Her mother said the road in Caledon off which Sonia was found was only 4 kms from IR's house and he would have used that road all the time (but it's not a busy road).

The OPP officer interviewed stopped short of saying IR has been cleared (said until the case is solved, nothing is off the table) but essentially it seems they do not think he was involved. He has been cooperative (and apparently took a lie detector test, although the officer refused to confirm/comment).

The program actually did an online interview with her ex-boyfriend from England. He claims Sonia's family knew about his separated wife and kids (like it wasn't a secret and Sonia knew early on). He says he was still her boyfriend at the time of her murder and they were enjoying the time they had left together (inconsistent with one of Sonia's friends who said they had broken up when she first learned he was going back to England). He had spent time with Sonia earlier and took the last photograph of her. He says she invited him to come over but he said he had to go home and pack. He thinks he last spoke with her at 9 or 10 pm on the phone.

In the time since, he has reconciled with his wife. He tries to keep the Sonia part of his life private. He was on social media but after "online detectives" found him and started posting things, he deactivated everything. Of note, he was stopped at the airport when he flew back to Canada once - he subsequently asked the police if his name is on some kind of list but they denied it. He's recently taken up clay pigeon shooting and when he applied for a gun license, he learned he's in Interpol's records as having a connection to this case.

To this day, the family has not been told how Sonia died. When the interviewer asked the OPP officer about the weapon (was it found) he said he doesn't want to get into the evidence. Sonia's mother thinks whoever did it will get away with it.

'I have the right to know how she died': Mother of murdered Orangeville nurse Sonia Varaschin to speak out in special ‘Crime Beat’ Global News feature

 

[ShaunLindsay]

Absolutely riveting.

 

[Pepperman]

We are to always remain hopeful this case will be solved. The Christine Jessop case has been solved using DNA genealogy techniques that will likely solve the Varaschin case at some point in time. I believe we are going to see many cold cases become solved as new technology advances and more information is readily available.

 

[dotr]

We are to always remain hopeful this case will be solved. The Christine Jessop case has been solved using DNA genealogy techniques that will likely solve the Varaschin case at some point in time. I believe we are going to see many cold cases become solved as new technology advances and more information is readily available.

Welcome to Ws Pepperman, looking forward to many more solved cold cases, hopeful that soon Sonia's will be one of them!

 

[Pepperman]

Thank you Dotr.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

I just finished watching Crime Beat: Who Killed Sonia on Global TV. (will be posted here eventually -- Free full episodes of Crime Beat on GlobalTV.com | Cast photos, gossip and news from Crime Beat)

Her mother was interviewed and said some interesting things. Sonia had recently purchased a "nightgown" for her own birthday (sounds like lingerie) and she was found wearing it. Her mother does not think Sonia would have answered a knock at the door wearing it.

Sonia's mother also seems to be suspicious of Sonia's boyfriend IR. You all probably know all of this but he had a wife and kids back in England, and when Sonia found out, he asked her not to tell her parents. When he told Sonia he was moving back to England she was upset. Earlier in the day on which she went missing, Sonia spoke with her mother and mentioned IR was mad about some issues he was having selling his furniture (in preparation for his move). Sonia would normally call her mother before she went to bed, but that night she did not.

Sonia's mother said IR claimed he was going back to England to live with his sister but he was actually going back to his wife. She said when Sonia was missing and eventually found, he was always at Sonia's parents house "listening and watching". Her mother said the road in Caledon off which Sonia was found was only 4 kms from IR's house and he would have used that road all the time (but it's not a busy road).

The OPP officer interviewed stopped short of saying IR has been cleared (said until the case is solved, nothing is off the table) but essentially it seems they do not think he was involved. He has been cooperative (and apparently took a lie detector test, although the officer refused to confirm/comment).

The program actually did an online interview with her ex-boyfriend from England. He claims Sonia's family knew about his separated wife and kids (like it wasn't a secret and Sonia knew early on). He says he was still her boyfriend at the time of her murder and they were enjoying the time they had left together (inconsistent with one of Sonia's friends who said they had broken up when she first learned he was going back to England). He had spent time with Sonia earlier and took the last photograph of her. He says she invited him to come over but he said he had to go home and pack. He thinks he last spoke with her at 9 or 10 pm on the phone.

In the time since, he has reconciled with his wife. He tries to keep the Sonia part of his life private. He was on social media but after "online detectives" found him and started posting things, he deactivated everything. Of note, he was stopped at the airport when he flew back to Canada once - he subsequently asked the police if his name is on some kind of list but they denied it. He's recently taken up clay pigeon shooting and when he applied for a gun license, he learned he's in Interpol's records as having a connection to this case.

To this day, the family has not been told how Sonia died. When the interviewer asked the OPP officer about the weapon (was it found) he said he doesn't want to get into the evidence. Sonia's mother thinks whoever did it will get away with it.

'I have the right to know how she died': Mother of murdered Orangeville nurse Sonia Varaschin to speak out in special ‘Crime Beat’ Global News feature

Verrry interesting! Finally he is being talked about.

 

[Deleted member 102539]

I think, parents have a right to know, how their children died, if murdered - just as Sonia's mother says. Maybe not immediately because of the investigation. But after a certain time span (not too long) LE should tell at least the parents, if you like, under the seal of secrecy. They have to know! Everything else is torture for these innocent victims. How did you deserve it as parents, that neither the perpetrator is found nor are you informed about, what is most important to you. IMO

 

[Deleted member 275109]

I sincerely hope that the Orangeville police are fully aware of, and familiar with the DNA technology used to identify the killer of Christine Jessop. And if they weren’t before, let’s hope this new development gives them new strategies and tools that they need to find Sonia’s killer(s). The killer must be shaking in his boots, or rather boot, knowing that they have his DNA, and that new technology and techniques are becoming available daily to help track him down. I wonder if they will be a coward and take the Calvin Hoover way out, or if they will face their day in court? It’s coming. It’s only a matter of time...

 

[Gina20]

I have followed Sonia's story since 2010. I know that Sonia's mother said in the recent documentary that Sonia's killer has gotten away with it. It sure seems that way. I hope, however, that investigators do not stop looking for answers.

Never give up. Case in point? Investigators in Edmonton have charged a man in a rape case, 39 years after it happened. DNA led to an Orillia man. He is awaiting trial in Alberta. His DNA was in the national DNA databank.

 

[2soccermom]

I've been thinking. In the recent new video on Sonia's case (Oct 2020), Sonia's mom gave a detail that hadn't been released before: she spoke about a new nightgown Sonia had bought and which is missing from her things. The inference here is that Sonia may have been wearing the item -- or it was put on her, or it was taken from the house the night Sonia was attacked. I have always assumed that Sonia was assaulted in her sleep (this is because LE has not talked about a struggle or DNA evidence under Sonia's fingernails etc) but: what if she did have invited company that night? For whom would she have worn a new (special) nightgown? Was a bottle of wine open, wine glass(es) in the sink? Did she have alcohol in her system? (I'd feel VERY confident to assume Sonia was not one to drink alone). Do the medical examiners know what might have been her last dinner contents? I wish we could have some of these answers.
Of course, the missing nightwear does not necessarily mean she was wearing it that night NOR, if she was, that she did so voluntarily. But the absent garment occasions some rumination on what else was or was not present in her house that eve: were there any indications of a visitor?
LE needs to tell us more so we can mobilize all our resources and collective and individual knowledges.
It's hard to see time pass and pass and pass with so little change. Sonia's mom's strength in that video is amazing to me. You can see her pain but still she fights. I'm trying to hope that this is the year there's finally some movement in the case and answers for the family.

 

[2soccermom]

I've been thinking. In the recent new video on Sonia's case (Oct 2020), Sonia's mom gave a detail that hadn't been released before: she spoke about a new nightgown Sonia had bought and which is missing from her things. The inference here is that Sonia may have been wearing the item -- or it was put on her, or it was taken from the house the night Sonia was attacked. I have always assumed that Sonia was assaulted in her sleep (this is because LE has not talked about a struggle or DNA evidence under Sonia's fingernails etc) but: what if she did have invited company that night? For whom would she have worn a new (special) nightgown? Was a bottle of wine open, wine glass(es) in the sink? Did she have alcohol in her system? (I'd feel VERY confident to assume Sonia was not one to drink alone). Do the medical examiners know what might have been her last dinner contents? I wish we could have some of these answers.
Of course, the missing nightwear does not necessarily mean she was wearing it that night NOR, if she was, that she did so voluntarily. But the absent garment occasions some rumination on what else was or was not present in her house that eve: were there any indications of a visitor?
LE needs to tell us more so we can mobilize all our resources and collective and individual knowledges.
It's hard to see time pass and pass and pass with so little change. Sonia's mom's strength in that video is amazing to me. You can see her pain but still she fights. I'm trying to hope that this is the year there's finally some movement in the case and answers for the family.

 

[2soccermom]

Sorry for the doubled post above -- not sure how I managed that (and I don't seem to see a "delete" function. Ooops). I'm still perplexed about that Sunday night. Sonia's relationship with the bf was ending: he says he was home packing that night for his return to England. While on the one hand, in thinking about her potential feelings of sadness / loneliness at this ending, it could make sense that she might have invited a new or former romantic interest for a visit -- she might have been trying her best to move on, and to distract herself from loss. But that would make more sense to me if this was a Friday or Saturday night.... We know she was starting a new job Monday. I think we also have a strong sense of Sonia as a responsible and mature person (remember her issue with the young and noisy neighbours...). We also know she had a very stressful situation at her former post, so the new job was an especially meaningful fresh start for her. And that her bf says he thinks he spoke with her about 9 or 10 pm that evening is also an important detail. So:
I find it VERY hard to believe she would have arranged a late-night visit with a potentially new interest (someone her friends and family didn't know about) on this late Sunday night. I'm back to thinking the attack happened while she was sleeping. We still can't be sure about whether her murderer was known, not well known, or wholly unknown to her.
(Of course: it's possible she could have had a late-afternoon date, and the person returned later uninvited and unexpected. But: if she had arranged to have company in the aft, surely there would be record of a phone call or email to set that up and confirm?)
Sigh. I keep puzzling this over. There are just so many unknown factors. We know the camera near where her car was found didn't pick up anything, according to LE, that could be used. The van driver was cleared. And the camera that picked up the 3 people at the gazebo hasn't led to any breaks either. I don't mean to sound ridiculous, but: could satellite images in the sky have picked anything more substantive up?

 

[2soccermom]

I can't read the full article because I'm not a subscriber, but as an example: Soon, satellites will be able to watch you everywhere all the time
versus more skepticism at
How can satellites help to solve crimes by using images, etc.? - Quora

I'm VERY sure we've had discussion on satellite surveillance on Sonia's thread before. I don't remember what folks with more expertise in high tech have had to say about the possibility.

 

[dotr]

. I don't mean to sound ridiculous, but: could satellite images in the sky have picked anything more substantive up?

rbsbm.
Not a ridiculous notion at all! imo.
The staggering crimes solved by Google Earth - including murders, missing people and secret drug farms
14 Sep 2019
''Google unearthed
The staggering crimes solved by Google Earth – including murders, missing people and secret drug farms''

Satellite imagery is being used to solve crimes
April 2015
''Ray Purdy and Ray Harris use satellite imagery to assist criminal investigations. Since launching their Air & Space Evidence agency in the UK last year, the specialists in law and Earth observation have worked on 30 enquiries, including cases in Mexico, Nigeria and Chile, ranging from murders to planning disputes; seven have turned into full-scale investigations.''

2014
Spy satellites fighting crime from space - CNN
''Story highlights

• Police begin to use next generation satellite tech in their investigations
• Until now, imagery had been too crude
• New methods well-suited to monitoring organized crime
• Experts fear lack of privacy provision means anyone could spy on anyone''

 

[Deleted member 102539]

Sorry for the doubled post above -- not sure how I managed that (and I don't seem to see a "delete" function. Ooops). I'm still perplexed about that Sunday night. Sonia's relationship with the bf was ending: he says he was home packing that night for his return to England. While on the one hand, in thinking about her potential feelings of sadness / loneliness at this ending, it could make sense that she might have invited a new or former romantic interest for a visit -- she might have been trying her best to move on, and to distract herself from loss. But that would make more sense to me if this was a Friday or Saturday night.... We know she was starting a new job Monday. I think we also have a strong sense of Sonia as a responsible and mature person (remember her issue with the young and noisy neighbours...). We also know she had a very stressful situation at her former post, so the new job was an especially meaningful fresh start for her. And that her bf says he thinks he spoke with her about 9 or 10 pm that evening is also an important detail. So:
I find it VERY hard to believe she would have arranged a late-night visit with a potentially new interest (someone her friends and family didn't know about) on this late Sunday night. I'm back to thinking the attack happened while she was sleeping. We still can't be sure about whether her murderer was known, not well known, or wholly unknown to her.
(Of course: it's possible she could have had a late-afternoon date, and the person returned later uninvited and unexpected. But: if she had arranged to have company in the aft, surely there would be record of a phone call or email to set that up and confirm?)
Sigh. I keep puzzling this over. There are just so many unknown factors. We know the camera near where her car was found didn't pick up anything, according to LE, that could be used. The van driver was cleared. And the camera that picked up the 3 people at the gazebo hasn't led to any breaks either. I don't mean to sound ridiculous, but: could satellite images in the sky have picked anything more substantive up?

I remember Sonia having expected an unknown visitor from Alberta (?), who had announced himself/herself. Idk, when exactly s/he would have come over or IF at all.
So, if I'm going to base it on own experiences, I would guess: A sad ending of her liaison with IR, because he returned to his (estranged or never estranged) wife to UK, AND a purposeful meeting with another male to comfort herself over it. It makes sense for me, if Sonia told IR of this new date for some sweet revenge. She may have told him even on their allegedly last phone call, if not earlier already. - Only speculation and IMO.
-.-.-
Btw: I think, Sonia had her new job at the Pharmacy for 1 month already. On Monday, when she had disappeared, she would have had an appointment at her previous job site, the Hospital, re insurance payment. Afaik and IMO.

 

[2soccermom]

Thanks, dotr, for the great articles and especially the succinct summary/highlights -- even as it's a bummer to read in the 2014 article that earlier satellite images are "too crude" for good use in criminal investigations. And thanks FromGermany for the correction on Sonia's new job. I always think it's important to post factually accurate info on the WS sites so that we don't end up down a rabbit hole.... And here I've gone and done that, sorry. I don't know why I was sure this was her first day at a new job. I've gone back and skimmed a bunch of news articles and the info is typically that she "just started" at the pharmaceutical company. So huge thanks for correcting that! Your reminder about the appt with the former employer that day is also really important, since that might suggest again (makes sense to me at least) that she would want a good rest and likely not invite new company late the night before.

We know there was a bloody bootprint found. I don't remember now if it was ever indicated if that was at her townhouse. In my skimming of some of the news articles again, all I see is that it was located at one of the three scenes. Does anyone remember or know anything more precise? Does LE know if the killer did or did not wear the boots while inside her home? If he was bootless, was this because he needed to move quietly (a surprise attack, perhaps while she was sleeping) or because he was invited in?

There's more that puzzles me about the DNA, but rather than get at that again I will just rather ask (this is a rehash): I don't think we've heard anything specifically about fingerprints, have we? Does that mean that the killer was more careful and methodical (less erratic/risky) than we might think? Was the assault pre-meditated, and he wore gloves, or a visit gone wrong -- but he did some cleanup no one has suggested to us? OR is it that his prints could be explained because he was known to Sonia, and regularly in her house and car already?

A few years ago I had the opportunity to speak with an American detective (it was a random social encounter) who was willing to hear and respond to my telling of Sonia's case. The detective said that, since the perp drove her car, there should be fingerprint evidence in the vehicle, because almost always a perp taking a car adjusts the rear-view mirror. That's apparently a KEY spot for evidence in car thefts. I posted this info on WS a long while ago, with the question: was there evidence the mirror (and seat, which may indicate leg length) was adjusted? Wiped clean? Were there only Sonia's prints (and those of friends, family, past bfs who may have had occasion to be in there) found in her car, and the rearview mirror especially? Can LE tell if a perp was wearing gloves (like a blank smudge over prints, rather than a wipe) -- which could suggest premeditation, or at least potentially prior experience with crime and/or police training?

Sonia's dad washed her car earlier that Sunday aft (which strikes me so resonantly, since that is something my dad has often done for me, and is yet another emotional reminder of how loved and cared for she was) -- this may have been a lucky coincidence: would the wash make for an especially fortuitous opportunity for evidence collecting? Would it mean the door handles would largely be cleaned of prior prints? We know the perp (or perps) would have had to open the doors of the car and trunk. Whose prints were on those handles (the detective said handles are a harder spot to collect from, because of the material -- but still possible), on her trunk lid, etc?