TORONTO — A local drycleaner was found dead in her store last week, the victim of a brutal midday stabbing. Police pronounced Li-Yuan (Rose) Liu, owner of Top A Cleaners, dead on the scene at about 1:00 p.m. last Monday; the attacker is still at large.
After being alerted that the store was open but apparently empty by a courier, the owner of a neighboring business discovered Liu on the floor of the plant’s bathroom suffering from multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Toronto police have released surveillance footage of a person of interest, seen outside the store at 3430 Finch Ave. The woman is described as 25 to 35 years old, with hair pulled back in a bun or ponytail. She was wearing a long dark overcoat, dark shoes and carrying a bag.
“We can put her in or near the drycleaners in amongst the time we’re looking at for the time of the murder,” Detective Scott Whittemore told the Toronto Sun. He added that the motive remains unknown, and police haven’t ruled out robbery or mental illness.
Liu is survived by a son who serves on the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia and two daughters. She had hoped to retire and move west to join her children.
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