Mystery surrounds death of realtor

Three youths called persons of interest after remains of Markham woman found

- OMAR MOSLEH, ASMA SAHEBZADA AND CALVI LEON

The search for a prominent Markham realtor has come to a tragic end after police confirmed Thursday they had discovered the remains of 56-year-old Yuk-Ying (Anita) Mui - and that they are treating her death as a homicide.

Police also said they have identified three youths as persons of interest in her disappearance earlier this month, although authorities say they are still investigating whether the teenagers were involved in the woman's death.

"We believe Ms. Mui was targeted and our homicide unit will continue the investigation until we find the individuals responsible," York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween told a news conference.

Mui's disappearance has sparked significant speculation and questions in the community, and authorities were able to answer a few of them publicly on Thursday. Police said they are still investigating why Mui could have been targeted, as well as trying to determine the precise date she died. Mui's cause of death has not yet been confirmed, pending a report from the coroner's office.

She left her home near Baycliffe Road and Warden Avenue in Markham on Aug. 9 around 9:30 am. the time she would typically leave for work, according to longtime colleague and friend Stephen Chow, president of Century 21 Atria Realty Inc.

He said one of Mui's two adult sons spoke to her around II a.m., but that they had no success reaching her after that.

Police found Mui's vehicle, a white 2024 Mercedes-Benz SUV, in a Scarborough parking lot in the area of Finch and Warden avenues on the afternoon of the day she went missing.

Three days later, York police say, Ontario Provincial Police officers found the burned human remains in the area of Avro Arrow Road and Highway 400, in McDougall Township near Parry Sound, more than 220 kilometres from where she lived. A person had called police to the area after noticing something suspicious, police said. The remains were found "out in the open," they added.