Police Arrest Another Suspect in Kidnapping of Woman Missing Since January 2022

Elnaz Hajtamari has been missing since Jan. 12, 2022. Ontario Provincial Police Handout

Police have arrested a female suspect in the kidnapping of Ontario woman Elnaz Hajtamiri, who has been missing since January 12, 2022.

In a news release on April 5, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said 35-year-old Dominique Ewan of Etobicoke has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, fraud over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Ewan was released with conditions and is scheduled to appear on May 16 in the Ontario Court of Justice in Collingwood, Ontario.

Police are still searching for 35-year-old Deshawn Davis, of Toronto, and another male they have not yet identified that they believe resides in the Greater Toronto Area. They are also still trying to find the missing woman and identify one, or potentially two, individuals of interest who rented vehicles in December 2021. They are not suspects in the kidnapping, but police say they may have information related to the case.

The OPP and York Regional Police have offered a $100,000 reward for information that will lead to the missing woman’s whereabouts.

On March 16, OPP arrested and charged Krystal P. Lawrence, a 30-year-old Brampton, Ontario, woman with kidnapping. She was scheduled for a court appearance on May 2.

Hajtamiri, who also uses the last name Tamiri, was abducted over a year ago by men pretending to be police officers. Police say the woman was forcibly dragged from a relative’s home in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, by three men dressed in what appeared to be police gear, but were not legitimate uniforms. They fled in what police believe to be a white Lexus RX sport utility vehicle, taking Hajtamiri with them.

Hajtamiri had been hiding with family members after she was repeatedly beaten with a frying pan in an underground parkade in a previous attack on December 2021, just a few weeks before her abduction. She reportedly suffered a head injury that required 40 stitches.

Multiple Arrests

Police have already arrested five suspects, including the victim’s former boyfriend, and York Regional Police identified two new suspects in a March 23 news release.

Jaspreet Singh, 24, of Delta, B.C., and Sukhpreet Sing, 23, of Mississauga, Ontario, are facing charges of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence for the parkade attack. Hajtamiri was struck with a frying pan in Richmond Hill, Ontario, on Dec. 21, 2021.

Hajtamiri’s sister, Aysa Hajtamiri, who lives in Melbourne, Australia, told reporters that Hajtamiri was hiding because her ex-boyfriend had allegedly begun threatening her.

Her former boyfriend, 35-year-old Mohamad Lilo, was charged with abduction in relation to Hajtamiri’s January 2022 disappearance, as well as attempted murder and attempted abduction stemming from the assault in December 2021. Two other men were also charged in relation to the parkade assault incident.

The OPP continues to seek the public’s help in identifying a second male suspect. Police believe he is residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Anyone with information about these individuals’ whereabouts is asked to contact the OPP immediately at 1-888-310-1122 or through the dedicated tip line at 1-833-728-3415.

According to the OPP, Hajtamiri emigrated from Iran to Canada less than five years ago. She is 5’3” tall and slim, with short black hair that was cut from a longer length before she went missing. The police have published photos of the missing woman and suspected kidnappers.

Anonymous tipsters are invited to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit tips online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca/submit-a-tip.

“Members of the public are strongly urged to help share our message on social media using the hashtag #BringElnazHome,” said OPP spokeswoman Agata Czajkowski.