Missing person Sonia Varaschin The week-long search for Sonia Varaschin, 42, of Orangeville came to a tragic end late Tuesday when a body found in Caledon Sunday was confirmed to be that of the missing nurse.

Police are now treating the woman's disappearance as a homicide.

In the meantime, both Caledon OPP and Orangeville Police Servicces have confirmed that a suicide at the Norpeel Motel last Thursday was in no way connected with Ms. Varaschin's killing. We will have a complete story in our Thursday edition.

Orangeville Police Service and the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch are continuing their search for a respected Orangeville nurse who was reported missing when she didn’t arrive at her workplace Monday, and are asking the public to be on the lookout for “anything out of place,” including items of clothing or body parts.

The police have asked that the public not touch such items, but to alert the Orangeville Police Service hotline.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, OPP Constable Peter Leon confirmed that foul play is suspected in the disappearance overnight Sunday of Sonia Varaschin, 42, of Spring Street, a registered nurse who was employed at Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket until about a month ago.

A source at Southlake confirmed that Ms. Varaschin had worked there until recently. “She left here about a month ago to pursue other work.”

Her blood-spattered Toyota

Her blood-spattered Toyota Corolla was discovered Monday by the alley at the east side of the town hall, reportedly with its front doors and truck open. A news release said blood was also found in her apartment, and a television newscast said blood was found on the handle of her townhouse entrance door.

Const. Leon said there are no suspects in the disappearance. However, a video surveillance tape from the town hall has revealed that a passenger van passed through the alleyway at 3:55 a.m. Monday. He is hoping the driver of the van will come forward as he or she may have seen Ms. Varaschin’s Toyota.

The constable was reluctant to answer any specific questions, saying the investigation is ongoing and “no stone will be left unturned.”

Police refused to say whether there were signs of forced entry to the townhouse or whether an alleged boyfriend had come forward.

Alexandra Park behind the town hall and a wide area near the town hall were taped off Tuesday with at least four police officers ensuring that no one crossed the line, as a police helicopters and possibly a media one cruised overhead.

At the scene, officers responded to the media with a simple “I don’t know.” One officer said he had been called from his off-duty day to attend at the town hall, and that was the extent of his information.

By Wednesday, the investigation appeared to shift entirely to Unit 21, 5 Spring St., where two police officers were stationed on the street and the area was taped off. There was a command trailer and two cruisers at the scene, and one officer indicated the investigation was continuing inside.

At the Courthouse Tuesday morning, no one was talking. But there was an unsubstantiated report that the police were also searching for a male friend of Ms. Varaschin. The source was not aware of whether the male was suspected of anything, or simply sought for information. Ms. for information. Ms. Varaschin was single with no children.

No. 5 Spring St. is a 31-unit townhouse complex constructed as a cul-de-sac. Spring St. is a secluded dead-end street off Amanda Street. Early Wednesday, no one was visible on any part of the complex, and a police officer said people were already leaving for work when he arrived on duty at 6 a.m. There were no neighbourhood responses to telephone calls from this newspaper.

At the police station Wednesday, the parking lot was virtually filled with media vehicles of all types.

Orangeville Police Chief Joe Tomei said he had spoken to a media scrum on Tuesday. When questioned about the investigation, he hadn’t much to offer Wednesday but said he was about to issue another news release.

Toronto papers quoted neighbour Diane Bowering as saying Ms. Varaschin works as a nurse and leads a relatively quiet life.

“I didn’t see her very often but the kids did. All the kids used to play down at the bottom of the hill and she used to give them candy and stuff like that,” she told The Sun.

The Sun quoted her as saying some neighbours had heard “noises” coming from the house just before 3 a.m. Monday.

“Some neighbours flatly refused comment,” the Sun said, quoting Ms. Bowering as saying, “Some of them heard screams and tires squealing.”

Mark Richards of the OPP Emergency Response Team is heading the police investigation, which is a joint effort of the OPP and Orangeville Police Service involving the use of a heatsensing helicopter and dogs.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police hot line at 519-941- 2522 ext. 2211 or Crime Stoppers.

In asking the public to be on the lookout for “anything out of place,” police said they should call police without touching it.

Reporters were given a CD with picture of the Ford or Dodge van..

The police were not holding out hope that they would find her alive. Chief Tomei, who said the matter is believed to be a “random incident,” added that the search “will continue until we find her.”