A missing woman, a bloodied car and an empty home have residents of Orangeville fearing the worst as police continue to comb the small southern Ontario community for clues.
Sonia Varaschin, 42, was last heard from on Sunday. The next day, police found her bloodied white Toyota Corolla parked in an alley, minutes from her townhouse, where investigators also found traces of blood.
One resident told local media of a "gruesome" scene, with blood smeared across the rear of the vehicle. As of late Tuesday, however, there were still no signs of Varaschin.
"We're very concerned for her safety and we're doing everything we can to try to find her," OPP Const. Jonathan Beckett said.
Authorities had sectioned off a park in downtown Orangeville where Varaschin's car was found, and were reportedly searching nearby garbage cans as a helicopter circled overhead.
Neighbour Steffen Lundy said he heard a ruckus late Sunday night in the vicinity of Varaschin's home.
"I was sleeping and pretty much woke up to car tires squealing . . . and yelling," Lundy recalled.
Joe Luz, who also lives on the street, said he only knew Varaschin well enough to exchange greetings with her, but was shaken by the news.
"This lady never made problems here. She was a nice lady," Luz recalled. "I'm scared, because here, there's normally no problems here."
Varaschin, who lives alone in Orangeville - approximately 90 kilometres northwest of Toronto - had failed to show up for work on the day a "suspicious vehicle" was reported in the alley near her home.
Family members reached in Albion, just outside Bolton, Ont., declined to comment on the woman's disappearance.
Police were appealing to the public for any information that could assist in locating Varaschin, described as five feet, one inch and 56 kilos, with brown hair with light-coloured streaks.
Both OPP officers and Orangeville police were investigating Tuesday, but would not comment on potential suspects.
"We're still looking for her," Beckett said. "We don't want to speculate about what has happened to Sonia. We're keeping our minds open to all the possibilities, but our primary focus right now is to find her."
Until about a month ago, Varaschin was employed at the Southlake Regional Health Centre.
Southlake spokeswoman Andrea Griepsma said Varaschin left of her own volition "to pursue another job." The recent news has been highly unsettling for staff, she added.
"Our colleagues and everyone here is greatly concerned for her and hoping for the best," Griepsma said. "(Her colleagues) are just all pretty shaken up right now."
Many of Varaschin's neighbours described her as a pleasant woman who led a quiet lifestyle, and expressed shock at the developments.
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