:flaming: :flaming: :flaming: York student's murderer may have fled by cab :flaming: :flaming: :flaming:
Forensic experts find drops of blood leading from scene
Michelle Shephard
Crime Reporter
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Police are searching for the killer of 19-year-old exchange student Lin Tao.
TORONTO STAR PHOTO
Toronto police forensics officers examine a backpack where Lin Tao was killed on Feb. 10, 2002, near Keele St. and Finch Ave.
Police believe the man who killed 19-year-old Lin Tao escaped the murder scene by car, possibly even in the back of a cab, and likely required medical attention for his injuries.
Earlier this week, homicide investigators asked the public to notify them about anyone who had received a recent unexplained injury. They extended that call for help yesterday to staff at medical clinics, hospitals or doctor's offices, asking them to contact police if they have treated a suspicious patient.
Forensic experts found drops of blood leading away from the crime scene and north on Keele St. during the homicide investigation yesterday. They believe the suspect was most likely cut in the hand and left this trail of blood.
Tao died Sunday, just a few days before her birthday. She was attacked and her throat slashed in an apartment parking lot on the corner of Keele St. and Fourwinds Dr., just north of Finch Ave. W.
She may have been followed from a nearby doughnut shop on Keele St. and, when the suspect attacked, Tao managed to struggle briefly before collapsing.
Her light blue purse was left at the scene. Homicide detective Chris Buck said last night that he was "not aware that anything was stolen" from her bag, but robbery was not ruled out as a motive.
In fact, police said yesterday they were not any closer to determining what prompted the attack and haven't found anything to indicate that Tao knew the suspect. When he fled, some time after 8 p.m. on Sunday, the suspect ran north along Keele St. toward Murray Ross Parkway in the southeast area of York University campus before getting into a vehicle.
Until this December, Tao was enrolled at York University's English Language Institute program. She first came to Toronto to study in 1999 on a student visa.
On the night of the attack, police said Tao's boyfriend, also here from China to study, was at home.
Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide detectives directly. Detective Sergeant Gary Giroux can be reached at 416-808-7387 and Buck at 416-808-7406.:flaming: :flaming: :flaming: :