ORANGEVILLE, Ont. - Police are telling the family of a missing Orangeville woman to brace for the worst.
Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Insp. Mark Pritchard said officers are hoping 42-year-old nurse Sonia Varaschin will be found alive, as the search continues into a fourth day.
"We're always going to maintain hope but at this point we're preparing the family and ourselves for the worst," said Pritchard.
Police are hoping tips from the public will help break the case.
While it was first believed that Varaschin was a victim of a random act, police said Thursday they now believe someone she knew may be behind her disappearance.
Pritchard said they're asking people who live in rural areas around the town to check their property for human remains or anything that looks out of place.
"There's a long weekend coming, people are going to be out and about and we really need the public to be our eyes and ears and help us locate Sonia," he said.
Officers are also are looking for anyone who may have seen Varaschin's white Toyota Corolla near the town hall on Sunday night or Monday morning.
Her blood-stained car was found in an alley Monday morning and police say they found a trail of blood inside and outside her home.
Officers say forensic evidence leads them to believe she was a victim of foul play.
Ground, air and trail searches of the Orangeville area, some 80 kilometres northwest of Toronto, have failed to find traces of Varaschin.
She did not show up for work Monday, and her family reported her missing.
Provincial police interviewed a potential witness who was driving a van near the town hall, but the driver was unable to provide any helpful information.
Officers say they have no suspects at this time.
