ACUNA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2007-10-04 published
Housekeeper's death at Mississauga mansion treated as foul play
By Omar EL
AKKAD and Jessica
RAFUSE,
Page
A15
The death of Jocelyn
DULNUAN, a Filipino-born, 27-year-old housekeeper
found inside a multimillion-dollar mansion on Monday, is likely
the result of foul play, Peel Regional Police say.
That sums up just about everything homicide detectives are willing
to say.
"The location was targeted for a specific reason that I am not
prepared to comment on today," Inspector Norm
ENGLISH, head of
the homicide bureau, said yesterday at a terse news conference.
"I do believe, though, that there was property taken from the
residence, however this needs to be determined after doing a
proper walk through with the homeowners," he said.
Ms. DULNUAN came to Canada last year on a work visa and worked
as a nanny in various locations across the Greater Toronto Area
before moving into the massive Mississauga home as a housekeeper,
Insp. ENGLISH said.
Both Ms. DULNUAN and the home - estimated to be worth more than
$10-million - may have been targets, he said, adding that Ms.
DULNUAN's
mother, who lives in Hong Kong, has been notified of her daughter's
death.
But as to what condition Ms.
DULNUAN's body was in, the cause
of her death, what items were taken from the home and a host
of other questions, Insp.
ENGLISH would only reply: "I'm not
prepared to discuss that."
Peel police spokesman Constable Adam
MINNION said homicide detectives
can sometimes choose to withhold information so as to not compromise
an investigation. "If [homicide detectives are] reluctant to
provide information, they must have their reasons," Constable
MINNION said. "Every situation's different. There must be something
they've seen there."
Police received a 911 call around 5 p.m. on Monday from one of
the homeowners inside the home. The homeowners, Vasdev (Dave)
CHANCHLANI and his wife
Jayshree, were not home at the time of
the incident, Constable
MINNION said.
Police have not yet publicly named any suspects.
At several Toronto churches with strong Filipino followings,
no one recognized Ms.
DULNUAN by name or photo yesterday.
She was also not registered with Intercede, a group that advocates
for the rights of domestic workers and caregivers.
"We've been getting calls all day," said counsellor Columbia
DIAZ, who is hoping to use the agency's contacts to get in touch
with Ms. DULNUAN's
Friends. "A lot of Filipina maids are worried
and want to know more, but there's not much that we know."
Ms. DIAZ said many caregivers and domestic workers prefer to
work in populated areas instead of secluded homes with limited
contact with the outside community.
Jo ACUNA, owner of Brampton-based Sunrise Placement Services,
said live-in nannies tend to apply for a work permit under the
federal live-in caregiver program.
The program stipulates that such employees must work in a private
home and be provided a private, furnished room within that home.
Ms. ACUNA said the largest portion of such workers arrive from
the Philippines, usually after first working in Hong Kong.
A representative from the Philippines consulate in Toronto said
the consulate has been in contact with Ms.
DULNUAN's mother,
who is trying to arrange the transportation of her daughter's
body back home.
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