Sarah Vermelhudo, 38, died Friday night and a second victim is expected to make a full recovery after Friday night’s bloodshed on College St. Suspect is considered violent, armed and dangerous.
By Alicja Siekierska Staff Reporter, Andrej Ivanov Staff Reporter
Police are still searching for a 21-year-old ɫɫ man considered to be “violent, armed and dangerous” after a double stabbing Friday night that left one woman dead and her mother injured.
In a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Det. Sgt. Graham Gibson said that it is “safe to say” that the victim, Sarah Vermelhudo, 38, was the aunt of the suspect, Shayne MacDonald, who is wanted for murder and at large.
Gibson added that the second victim stabbed, a 59-year-old woman, was Vermelhudo’s mother.
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MacDonald dropped by the home where both women lived, on College St. near Dufferin St., at around 8 p.m., a visit that Gibson described as “a normal occurrence” at the household. During the visit, there was a sudden argument and Vermelhudo was stabbed; when her parents tried to help, Vermelhudo’s mother was also stabbed.
Vermelhudo’s mother was seriously injured but is expected to make a full recovery.
MacDonald fled the house on foot, said Gibson, and was last seen going west on College and then north on Dufferin St.
Outside the house where the stabbing took place sat Christmas decorations on Saturday; a small wreath was on the door.
Police say they do not have a motive for the crime.
“They were all friends, there was no history of ever having problems with him in the past,” Gibson said. “(MacDonald) was welcome at the residence and had been there in the past.”
Vermelhudo was a self-employed life coach, running a entrepreneurial endeavour called “Empower Yourself Coach.”
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Her website states that her “passion is to transform her clients, from feeling Powerless to Empowered!!”
In July, Vermelhudo posted a photo on Facebook with a statement about being a coach.
“I am a highly sensitive person, and I’ve learned to own that by empowering myself. By Not letting the criticism of others to make me lose my natural gifts, lose my intuition, and most importantly lose my (true) self!” she wrote.
The manager at the Faema store in Sherway Gardens where Vermelhudo also recently worked would not speak to the Star, but employees outside the store on Saturday said they were shocked by the news. They said that they were told not to comment to media about her death.
MacDonald, 21, of ɫɫ is wanted in connection to the crime, for second degree murder and attempted murder. He is 5-feet-10, 160 lbs., with light brown hair; police warned that he is considered violent, armed, and dangerous.
Alicja Siekierska Alicja Siekierska is a former ɫɫ Star staff reporter.
