Five years later, search for Sonia Varaschin’s killer continues

Five years after Sonia Varaschin was brutally murdered, the search for her killer continues.

“We believe strongly that a member of the public does have the missing piece of the puzzle that we are looking for, that will bring Sonia’s killer to justice,” Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sgt. Peter Leon told 680 NEWS on Friday.

Varaschin, 42, was reported missing on Aug. 30, 2010, after she failed to show up at work. Her blood-stained car was found in an alley the same day. Police also found blood inside and outside her home in Orangeville, Ont., about an hour northwest of Toronto.

A few days later remains discovered in a wooded area in Caledon, about 12 kilometres from Orangeville, were confirmed as Varaschin’s.

Since then, Leon said, almost 1,200 tips have come in to police, and they’re counting on more. Police are still offering a $50,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to the apprehension of her killer.

“No matter how small the information, each and every tip has and will continue to be thoroughly investigated,” Det.-Insp. Shawn Glassford said in a statement.

The case drew national attention as investigators revealed the culprit likely left Varaschin’s home covered in a significant amount of blood and used Varaschin’s car to move the nurse’s body to the wooded area where it was found.

“Sonia was a victim of a horrible crime that impacted not only the Orangeville community but the surrounding community as well,” Leon said.

Police added that whoever killed Varaschin was wearing men’s size 10 or 11 boots sold only at Mark’s Work Wearhouse. They asked the public to think back to anyone who may have come home with unexplained stains on his clothes or footwear.

Last year, police released a video of two people in a gazebo. They are still hoping to identify those people.

They are considered witnesses, not suspects, police said at the time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.