Saanich Police have released photos of a vehicle they believed to be connected with a 2017 machete incident in Oak Bay.
In addition, police revealed another incident in Sooke was also connected to the primary investigation.
On the morning of April 25th, 2017, a woman was attacked while alone in her home in the 2500-block of Esplanade Road in Oak Bay by an unknown male.
Around 7:30 a.m., the woman was in her home and heard noises coming from the kitchen area. She went to investigate the noises and found an unknown man there.
She confronted the man and an altercation took place, resulting in the woman being struck several times with an edged weapon, believed to be a machete.
The woman was able to call police but the suspect fled before officers could arrive.
At the time of the incident, the only description of the suspect provided was that the man was heavy-set, in his 20s, and was last seen wearing a brown jacket, dark pants, and a baseball cap.
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The following day, April 26th, 2017, a secondary crime scene was discovered in Sooke, which detectives can now confirm is related to the primary investigation.
To this day, the random attack has remained an active investigation with significant police resources and actions dedicated to it. The suspect has never been identified.
Detectives with Saanich Police’s Major Crime Unit alongside officers with the Oak Bay Police Department have uncovered new evidence that may lead to the identification of the suspect and the recommendation of charges to the Crown Counsel, including footage of a suspicious vehicle.
Evidence shows a vehicle, captured on video, going back and forth on Sooke Road from this secondary scene.
The vehicle is a blue Ford Explorer Sport Trac with unique characteristics.
Now, investigators are asking anyone with information that may have seen the blue Ford Explorer Sport Trac in the Sooke area on April 26th 2017 to come forward.
“We know that there are people in our community that have information that can assist in solving this file and we strongly urge them to come forward to the police,” said Constable Markus Anastasiades.
Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the Saanich Police Department’s Major Crime Unit at (250) 475-4356 or 1-888-980-1919.
