Canada-wide warrant issued for suspect in Markham woman's death

Investigators have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in connection with the death of a Markham woman who went missing under "suspicious circumstances" earlier this month, police say.

Zhixiong Marko Hu, 47, is wanted for first-degree murder related to the death and disappearance of Yuk-Ying (Anita) Mui, a 56-year-old realtor, York Regional Police said Wednesday.

Mui's family reported her missing on Aug. 9 and her SUV was later found in the area of Finch Avenue E. and Warden Avenue, police said last week. 

Const. Lisa Moskaluk said Wednesday police are investigating whether Mui was meeting Hu for a real estate appointment that afternoon at a property on Vandorf Sideroad in Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ont.

On Aug. 12, officers found burned human remains just outside Parry Sound, Ont., about 230 kilometres north of Toronto, police said. The Office of the Chief Coroner later positively identified the deceased as Mui. Police are investigating her death as a homicide.

WATCH | Body of missing Anita Mui found, 3 teens charged:

Body of missing Markham realtor found, 3 teens charged

3 months ago

Duration 2:52

Police are digging into the disappearance and murder of a Markham real estate agent. Homicide detectives confirmed on Thursday morning that human remains found burned in Parry Sound earlier this week belong to 56-year-old Anita Mui. CBC's Chris Glover has the latest on the investigation.

Any other information on Hu's connection to Mui, or his motive, isn't being released to "protect the integrity of the investigation in any further prosecution," Moskaluk said, but investigators believe they have enough grounds to lay charges and issue the warrant.

Hu had no prior convictions and was not known to police, Moskaluk said.

Police believe Hu may have left the country, she said.

Suspect vehicles also seized

Moskaluk said investigators have seized two vehicles associated with Hu: a white 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van with the Ontario license plate number CWHW720 and a grey 2021 Porsche Cayenne SUV with the plate number CTZT172.  The Porsche may have had a different license plate on Aug. 9, she said.

Police believe Mui was transported in the seized van, Moskaluk said. They are asking anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the days before or after Mui's disappearance to come forward.

On Thursday, three teenagers were charged in connection with the case, with investigators alleging they were in possession of property belonging to Mui. Police say they believe the teens used Mui's credit cards at locations around the GTA after her disappearance.

The teenagers were all charged with fraud and one also faces several firearms charges, police say.

"Any connection between Hu and Mui, or the three youths, is all still part of the investigation, and that investigation continues," Moskaluk said.

Investigators are asking anyone with further information to contact them.

Mui's alleged murder is one of the latest examples of a what police say is a worrying increase in violent crime in York Region.

At a news conference Tuesday, YRP Chief Jim MacSween said violent crime, including homicide, shootings and carjackings, have surged in the region this year.