The 2022 disappearance of a Mississauga, Ont., woman is now being treated as a homicide, with Peel Regional Police saying they have “identified a suspect.”
Investigators said Monday that they’re asking for the public’s help in the case of 38-year-old Mezhgan Aini, who vanished in June 2022.
Police in a news release said Aini, who also went by the names “Sara” or “Sarah,” lived near Queen Frederica Drive and Dundas Street East in Mississauga. Aini is described as standing five feet two inches tall and having a medium build with long, straight black hair.
She was reported missing last June by family members in Afghanistan who had been unable to reach her for an extended period, police said.
Det. Kevin Robbie with Peel Regional Police told Global News that 12 Division initially received the report and began a missing persons investigation.
“The investigators at 12 Division looked into her friends, family, coworkers, her banking, phone records, medical history and there was no signs of life that they were able to find out since June of 2022,” Robbie said.
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“She’s lost contact or had no contact with every single person in her life and that goes from coworkers to family in Afghanistan, her family here in Mississauga, her friends.”
He said the investigation lasted about a month before it came to the homicide division.
Robbie told Global News that Aini’s husband had an allegation of assault presented in New York against him, but it did not result in charges due to diplomatic immunity.
Following that allegation, Robbie said the family came to Canada and settled in Mississauga.
“It was our understanding he was supposed to go back to Afghanistan to speak with government officials, and he, in turn, came to Canada instead,” Robbie said.
He said the family has been cooperating in the police’s investigation.
Asked if Aini’s husband is a person of interest in the investigation, Robbie said he “can’t say what his status is at this time.”
However, the detective confirmed to Global News they have “identified a suspect.”
Investigators are asking anyone who has information, or who observed suspicious activity near her home between June and September 2022, to contact them.
Robbie said they’re looking for any friends of Aini’s they haven’t previously identified who may have known her to speak with police.
“We’re hoping that potentially somebody could’ve witnessed something unusual, if they see a photo of Mezhgan, maybe it would alert them to remember something that was odd in the area or unusual in the area that kind of maybe didn’t sit well with them at the time and they just didn’t put their finger on it,” Robbie said.
He also told Global News prior to her disappearance, Aini was a “talented” seamstress in the Afghan community who worked both at home and in Afghan clothing stores. He said if someone who got to know her through her work, such as a client, who may have additional information, they are asked to come forward.
“We will take anybody who knows Mezhgan or “Sara” to come forward and talk to us,” he added.
—with files from Global News’ Catherine McDonald
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