Investigators make renewed public appeal on one year anniversary of murder of Orangeville nurse

It has been one year since Sonia Varaschin’s blood-stained Toyota Corolla was found abandoned in an Orangeville alley. However, police have yet to arrest a suspect in the case that has shocked the close-knit community of about 28,000 people. Investigators are using the anniversary of the 42-year-old nurse’s murder to make a renewed plea for information from the public.

Police are convinced it will be a tip from the public that breaks the case wide open and they want people to call them with any information, no matter how trivial the caller may think it to be.

“We do believe strongly that somebody out there does hold the missing piece of the puzzle to this investigation,” said OPP Constable Peter Leon.

Const. Leon insists the passage of time does not mean the case has been forgotten.

“Investigators from both OPP and Orangeville police service are working on every possible lead that comes in,” he said.

He is adamant Varaschin’s killer – or killers – will be found.

“Every day that does pass brings us that much closer to hopefully finding the individual or individuals responsible for this horrific crime,” he said.

As for the investigation, the voluntary DNA cheek swabs of certain men that began about three months ago continues. Among those asked to provide DNA samples, men Varaschin may have met through a dating website. Some have refused but Leon won’t reveal how many explaining to 680News that it is part of the investigation. He also said contrary to what you see on television shows, DNA testing is incredibly time consuming.

“It does take a period of time as you can appreciate. All these samples have to be tested in Toronto at the Centre for Forensic Sciences in Toronto.”

Varaschin was reported missing on August 30, 2010 after she didn’t show up for work. Her remains were located just a few days later on September 5th, 2010 in the woods of Caledon, about 12 kilometres from Orangeville.

Police have previously said the killer wore a men’s size 10 or 11 Wind River or Dakota brand name boot sold only at Mark’s Work Wearhouse.

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