Police Reveal Possible Traits Of Sonia Varaschin’s Killer

Detectives on the Sonia Varaschin murder case revealed some of their investigative theories Thursday and outlined some behavioural traits her killer may have exhibited in the hopes of turning up new leads.

“We are confident this case will be solved,” OPP Det. Insp. Mark Pritchard said at a news conference in Orangeville Thursday.

Pritchard said Varaschin’s case was the subject of a three-day summit earlier this month involving criminal profiling experts, including members of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation’s behavioural analysis unit and “very senior” homicide investigators from the provincial, York Region, Toronto and Ottawa police forces.

Authorities have come up with a few theories about the person who murdered Varaschin, a 42-year-old nurse. Pritchard said the killer is likely very familiar with the Orangeville area, particularly Beech Grove Sideroad in Caledon, where Varaschin’s remains were discovered on Sept. 5.

“He may be comfortable there,” Pritchard said.

The OPP investigator also said the killer likely displayed specific and unusual behaviours around the time of Varaschin’s murder, Aug. 29 and 30th and the day her remains were discovered.

Pritchard said this person may have had some unexplained absences from work or from other regular activities around that time. This person may have increased their use of alcohol and/or drugs and may have appeared either irritable or anxious.

Police also believe the killer may have moved away from the area recently and/or cut social interactions.

Pritchard wouldn’t paint a more specific picture for fear of eliminating potential suspects.

“We are releasing these behavioural traits in a bid to zero in on Sonia’s  killer. Someone familiar with the killer will recognize these traits and we are appealing to those people to contact us immediately,” he said.

A boot impression left by a size 10 or 11 Marks Work Wearhouse men’s Dakota or Wind River brand boot appears to be the key piece of evidence in the case.

Pritchard described the person they’re looking for as “a cold-blooded killer” who targeted a “low-risk victim” and carried out a very disturbing and “high-risk” crime by attacking Varaschin in a close townhouse community and driving her blood-stained car to dispose of her body.

Detectives are still trying to determine if Varaschin knew her killer, or if he simply knew of her. Pritchard said there’s no conclusive connection to a case of a woman attacked in her home near Orangeville last week.

Investigators have received 460 tips from the public so far and have interviewed approximately 500 people.

“In Canada this type of crime is highly unusual,” Pritchard said in response to a question about the amount of resources dedicated to this case.

Meanwhile, Orangeville Police Chief Joseph Tomei advised local residents Thursday to “take normal precautions” while investigators continue to hunt for the killer, including locking doors and vehicles.

And as investigators continue to work the case, Varaschin’s mother, relatives and friends will be dealing with their unspeakable loss over the holidays.

“This Christmas, there will be an empty setting at our table where Sonia used to sit with her bright smile, talked, joked and just enjoyed Christmas with all her family,” Sonia’s mother Michele Varaschin said Thursday — the first time she’s spoken publicly since her daughter’s murder.

“I wish this feeling on no one.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP tip line at (519) 941-2522, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.