Woman seen struggling in webcam chat before her death

A webcam chat is the strongest lead police have as they continue to investigate the suspicious death of a foreign student from China.

Officers were called to a basement apartment at 27 Aldwinckle Heights, near York University, late Friday morning where they found the body of a 23-year-old Qian Liu, originally from Beijing.

Ten hours earlier, the woman was having a webcam chat with her boyfriend in China when a man knocked on her door. He allegedly asked to use her cell phone and a struggle ensued, part of which was witnessed by Liu’s boyfriend until the computer was shut off.

Liu’s computer, believed to be an IBM Think Pad T-400, is now missing.

She was naked from the waist down, but police said there were no obvious signs of sexual assault. There’s no word yet on a cause of death.

One of Liu’s roommates, who asked not to be named, described her as very quiet and hardworking and said she was taking English classes at York University. One of Lui’s friends also identified a rejected suitor as a person of interest. He’s been interviewed and police are verifying his alibi.

The webcam witness provided a description of the man he saw onscreen, who’s said to be:

-White
-20 to 30-years-old
-6’, 175lbs to 200lbs. with a muscular build
-brown, medium-length hair that was messy in front

The man was wearing a blue, crew neck T-shirt. Liu’s roommate showed reporters a photo of the man he says knocked on her door.

An autopsy proved inconclusive. Investigators are now hoping toxicology tests will help them.

“We’re looking at the blood, what exactly was in her blood at the time of her death so we’re looking for anything that could have been put into her system. We’re keeping an open to all aspects of the investigation,” said Toronto Police Cst. Tony Vella.

Anyone with information can call police at (416) 808-7399 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS.

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