Police lay kidnapping charge as search for missing Ontario woman continues

York Regional Police have charged a man with kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of an Ontario woman under “suspicious” circumstances.

Ying Zhang was last seen on July 25 at roughly 10:40 a.m. in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Steelcase Road in Markham.

On Monday, police were on scene at the HoliBalance Wellness Centre inside the Chelsea Square commercial plaza looking for evidence about her disappearance. She is still missing.

A lawyer who works in the building told Global News Monday they heard screaming coming from the wellness centre on Thursday.

Zhang’s family reported the 57-year-old woman as missing after she failed to return home from her work last Thursday. According to investigators, Zhang was last seen at the wellness centre.

“This is out of character for her and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are being treated as suspicious,” YRP wrote in a news release.

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In an update Monday, police said they charged Changlin Yang, 26, of East Gwillimbury with kidnapping, forcible confinement and aggravated assault.

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“A white Ford van was seen in the area and a suspect was seen with a large, green wheeled bin near the van at the time of Zhang disappearance,” police said.

“There is information that the suspect vehicle travelled to the Village of Kirkfield, in the City of Kawartha Lakes, on the afternoon of July 25.”

Police say Zhang is 5’7″ with a medium build and straight, shoulder-length, black and grey hair.

She was last seen wearing blue scrubs and a jade bracelet on her left hand. Investigators would like to hear from anyone in the area at the time and from anyone with information about this incident.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Homicide Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7865 or email at homicide@yrp.ca.