Suspect charged in alleged kidnapping of woman who remains missing
Posted July 29, 2024 3:57 pm.
Last Updated July 31, 2024 12:46 pm.
York Regional Police have laid charges after a Markham woman’s suspected kidnapping.
Ying Zhang, 57 (pictured below), was last seen at a wellness centre near Woodbine Avenue and Steel Case Road around 10:40 a.m. on July 25.
Investigators said a white Ford van was seen in the area and a suspect was spotted with a green garbage bin near the van at the time of her disappearance.
Zhang’s family contacted police after she failed to return home from work that day.
She remains missing.
On Saturday, police arrested Changlin Yang, 26, of East Gwillimbury. He’s facing charges of kidnapping, forcible confinement and aggravated assault.
“We are still working to determine if they were known to each other or if there was any relationship between the two,” said Const. James Dickson at a Monday afternoon conference.
“There was physical evidence at the scene to suggest that (she) was injured,” said Const. Dickson.
“At this time, we don’t know if she is alive or not.”
On Monday, police released images of the suspect, the suspect vehicle, and the type of bin spotted in the area of her alleged kidnapping.
Investigators say they believe the suspect may have travelled to Kirkfield in Kawartha Lakes on the afternoon of July 25 in the vehicle — a white Ford van with an Ontario licence plate of BZ43851.
