ORANGEVILLE, Ont. - The search for clues in the disappearance of an Ontario nurse turned Friday to bedding missing from the woman's home that police said would be soaked in blood.
With Sonia Varaschin's family making a heartfelt plea for her safe return, police asked the public to report anyone seen Monday with unexplained blood on their clothes or footwear as the search stretched into its fifth day.
"When the culprit left the scene he was covered in a significant amount of blood," said Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Insp. Mark Pritchard.
"We expect that following this crime the offender would have had a significant change in his behaviour."
Varaschin, 42, of Orangeville, Ont., was reported missing by her family Monday when she didn't show up for work.
Her blood-stained white Toyota Corolla was found in an alley Monday morning in the town, some 80 kilometres northwest of Toronto. A trail of blood was also found inside and outside her home.
Beige colour bedding, including a fitted sheet and a comforter, were among items taken from the home, police said Friday as they described the grisly scene.
While police said they have no suspect, forensic evidence leads them to believe foul play is involved. They have told the family to brace for the worst.
In a statement read by Orangeville police Chief Joseph Tomei, Varaschin's family said they remain "dedicated to finding her."
"She is a young, active, hardworking and caring individual who deserves the opportunity to continue making a difference in this world and her community," the statement read.
"We miss her dearly and are pleading for her safe return."
Police said there's nothing about Varaschin's lifestyle that would have put her at risk.
"It's somebody that she knows, or knew her or at least was familiar with her," Pritchard said of the person responsible. Police wouldn't rule out the possibility that someone was watching the woman before she went missing.
The investigation suggests the culprit left Varaschin's house in the woman's Toyota and returned to downtown Orangeville with the car sometime later, he said.
Ground, air and trail searches of the Orangeville area -- which is predominantly rural -- have failed to find traces of Varaschin. The mounted units of both Toronto police and the OPP also joined the search Friday.
Provincial police have interviewed a potential witness who was driving a van near the town hall where Varaschin's car was found, but the driver was unable to provide any helpful information.
Pritchard said he wants the community to be the "eyes and ears" for police in the case.
A Facebook group dedicated to bringing Varaschin home has thousands of followers offering support to Varaschin's family.
"My heart drops every time I hear the helicopters go over. Orangeville is such a beautiful little town," one woman posted.
"I am absolutely sick that this happened to this woman. I pray that answers will be found."
