March 22 2023 rbbm Very lengthy article.
by Farrah Merali ·
''Multimillion-dollar lawsuits, an abandoned luxury SUV and a sudden lack of communication are all parts of a mystery police are trying to unravel in the disappearance of a Toronto-area lawyer.
Isabella Dan, the 53-year-old owner of a law office in Markham, Ont., hasn't been seen in almost three weeks, leaving her friends and police concerned about her whereabouts.
Police have called the circumstances of Dan's disappearance suspicious and have now turned the case over to York Regional Police's Homicide and Missing Person Unit, CBC Toronto has learned.
"Some information has been brought to the attention of the investigators that led them to believe the circumstances for this particular case is unusual and out of character," York Regional Police Const. Maniva Armstrong told CBC Toronto.
"And the concern is that there is suspicion or the possibility of foul play," she added. Investigators wouldn't share further details.''
SUV found outside Markham condo
The last time Dan was seen was the night of March 3 at a condo building in Water Walk Drive and Verclaire Gate close to Highway 7 and Warden Avenue in Markham. The area is humming with construction activity amid a handful of existing highrise condos.Police believe Dan lived at the building but it's unclear if she was last spotted inside or outside the building
Investigators have also not said where Dan was believed to be going that evening — only that she was wearing a beige coat with fur on the collar and black pants, carrying a red gym bag.
"We know through our investigation that she was an active member at an LA Fitness Gym Club that's also located near the residence," said Armstrong.
The gym is roughly three kilometres from the condo where she was last seen. Investigators are urging anyone who may have known her from the gym to get in touch, Armstrong added. ''
Police told CBC Toronto a vehicle associated with Dan — a grey Land Rover — was found near the Markham condo but wasn't parked in her building's underground garage. Instead, it was on the street outside the building.
''Lien records show Dan signed a four-year lease for the $95,000 vehicle last summer. It's unclear what, if anything, police were able to obtain from the vehicle as part of their investigation.''
Dan was facing multiple civil court battles at the time of her disappearance.
She's named in four ongoing cases at Ontario's Superior Court involving allegations of fraudulent mortgages taken out on properties in the Greater Toronto Area. The most recent was filed in December 2022.
"The lawsuits for my client do not allege Dan facilitated, initiated or benefited from the alleged fraud," said Glenn Cohen, a lawyer representing the plaintiff in two of the cases against Dan.
"They plead claims of lawyer's negligence and breach of contract, in that she failed to comply with the terms of the mortgage commitment, in particular regarding title insurance, and failed to advise the client about aspects of the transactions."
