First a wife vanishes, and now her husband is shot to death in a strange home invasion.
It’s a bizarre and disturbing series of events suffered by a couple who came to Canada from China for a better life, but found tragedy.
Wei Ruo Zhao’s murder is the second mysterious “who dunnit” case for this Mississauga family in 13 years.
First a son’s mother went missing. Now his father was murdered.
As Peel Regional Police officers search for killers who shot Wei in a violent home invasion on Oct. 1, The Toronto Sun has learned this man’s wife disappeared in 2011.
And Fang Lin remains missing to this day. The 40-year-old, who’s high-end Porsche Cayenne SUV was found at a shopping mall April 23, 2011, disappeared on April 21 of that year when she was supposed to meet a friend at a restaurant in Richmond Hill.
“I can confirm the connection between Peel’s case and our missing person, Fang Lin. . . The victim in Peel’s case was the husband (Mr. Wei) of our missing person, Mrs. Lin. The Fang Lin case, ” said York Regional Police Det. Sgt. Tom Cober
At that time of Fang’s disappearance, Wei appeared at a York Regional Police news conference appealing for assistance in locating his wife. Her disappearance is considered a cold case, but is still active and being worked on.
Now, the husband’s family is making a public appeal through Peel Regional Police for help in solving his strange homicide.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have information about the suspect or the events of that night. If you saw anything suspicious, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, please come forward,” the family said in a statement, adding they are “devastated by this senseless and heartbreaking act, and we are seeking justice for Mr. Wei Ruo Zhao.” The family is asking people for assistance to “help bring the person responsible to justice and prevent further harm.”
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Police have said more than three suspects fled after Wei was killed, while two other relatives in the home were struck by bullets. They were treated for wounds in a hospital and will survive the ordeal.
Investigating officers also released a photograph of a white SUV that fled the scene at Joan Dr. and Central Parkway Dr., near the Square One Shopping Mall.
“Investigators from the Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau are seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspects involved in a homicide that occurred in the City of Mississauga,” said police. “On Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at 3:47 a.m., police responded to reports of an altercation at a residence near Joan Dr. and Central Parkway Dr., Mississauga.” Police are urging anyone with information to call 905-453-2121, ext. 3205.
Peel homicide detectives conducted a thorough forensic investigation and have been looking into all aspects of Wei’s life as they try to determine a motive.
The 55-year-old businessman was one of the owners of the popular Ocean’s grocery store chain. The last time he spoke publicly, he appeared with the help of an interpreter at York Regional Police headquarters, asking the public for help in his wife’s disappearance.
“I think my wife is a very nice person and is very outgoing. I’m hoping anyone with information will come forward,” Wei said through a translator.
So far, the appeal, and an extensive police probe, have not led to the location of the 5-foot-3, brown-eyed, 120-pound woman who was last seen wearing a black skirt and sweater.
At the time, Toronto Sun reporters Rob Lamberti and Tamara Cherry and National Post reporter Megan O’Toole closely covered this case in which detectives described Fang as someone who attended high-roller poker rooms and VIP areas of casinos and was known to be a lender of money to players.
No potential motive was made public at the time, but police raised concerns about the potential of what having large amounts of cash on hand could cause. Police have not indicated that there is any link between her disappearance and her husband’s recent murder.
Or provided any suspect information.
Whether the cases are separate or somehow related, it is an interesting set of circumstances.
Police say all avenues will be looked at. One is a missing person’s case, and the other is a murder.
With both unsolved, police are working hard to change that.