Body-parts slaying clue may lie in security videos
The investigation into the death and dismemberment of a Toronto mother of three will move from the forensic laboratory to the streets today, now that police have identified the victim.
Investigators will start piecing together the final movements of Hua Guang Liu from security videos and interviews.
Liu, 41, was reported missing from her home in the city's east end on Aug. 11. On Tuesday, Peel Regional Police confirmed her remains were the ones recovered from a river in Mississauga and a creek in Toronto.
Scientists had matched the DNA from the recovered body parts to Liu.
A severed head, a foot, two hands and other body parts were found in the Credit River and Highland Creek.
Liu, a Canadian citizen of Chinese descent, was a single mother of three. She had been operating a spa in a Scarborough mall. The spa is no longer in business.
The investigation now turns to finding Liu's killer.
Insp. George Koekkoek of the Peel force, which is handling the case, said investigators have searched Liu's home, as well as a motel in Scarborough that may be linked to her death.
"We are working on suspect information," he said.
Police said that although Liu's death is horrific, it is "an isolated case."
"We have no reason to believe that this is anything other than an isolated case and that's the focus of our investigation thus far," Koekkoek said. "We're satisfied to this stage that there's no threat or danger to the public safety. If we have information to the contrary, we'll be the first to advise."
The spa that Liu operated was known as Forget Me Not.
Helen Savo-Sardaro, the building manager for the complex where the spa was located on Eglinton Avenue, told CBC News that police told her Liu left the spa at 5:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 10 — the day she disappeared.
Savo-Sardaro said she knew the identity of the victim was when police revealed details about what they had found.
"As soon as I heard it was yellow toenails, I knew it was her," she said.
Savo-Sardaro was also a client at the spa. She said Liu ran a legitimate business and was very professional.
Imran Bachcha, a pharmacist who works next door to the former spa, said police have requested access to the video recorded by on-site security cameras.
Bachcha told CBC News that police were interested in whether the cameras covered the exterior of the pharmacy.
They told him they were "doing some major investigations regarding that missing woman."
A few doors down, Jong Soon Suh became tearful over the news about Liu's death.
"It's a nightmare," said Suh, who has owned a dry-cleaning business in the complex for nearly 18 years. "It's very sad. She was the mother of three children."
Suh said a Caucasian man came into her store last week with a missing poster of Liu. He was visibly upset and said that Liu was his girlfriend.
She said the spa had been owned by a married couple for the past few years until they sold it to Liu in May so they could go back to China. Suh said the new owner mostly kept to herself.
Friends said Liu was planning to sell the spa after only a few months in business and, the evening she went missing, was scheduled to meet a prospective buyer.
CBC News has also learned that police are investigating whether a suitcase of clothing found in Toronto on Monday has any connection to the case.
The suitcase was found just two blocks from where some of Liu's remains were found.
