Jianguo (Tony) Han
Kidnappings like the one police say ended with the death of a Toronto real estate agent occur very rarely in North America.
That infrequency makes them all the more dangerous for the victim, said Chris Voss, who was the FBI's lead negotiator on international kidnapping for six years until 2007.
"In the U.S. or Canada there is no robust or mature kidnapping industry among criminals," said Mr. Voss, who is now CEO of the Washington-based Black Swan Group. "They are relatively new at it, they don't know what they're doing, so they tend to be sloppy."
He said kidnappers here may be more likely to kill their victim out of a fear that person will give evidence to police when they're released.
Peel police have confirmed that human remains found in a Markham, Ont., home last week were those of Jianguo (Tony) Han, a luxury realtor who went missing from the 15-room mansion he was trying to sell in Mississauga in January, along with the home's owner, Jun (Johnny) Fei. Mr. Fei turned up safe a few days after the two went missing.
Peel police say they believe Mr. Han's abduction was part of a ransom plot carried out by a group. They have laid charges against six people, at least four of whom are in their early 20s, and have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for Guo Wei Wu, 43, in connection with the case.
Mr. Han, an immigrant from China, worked as a landscaper before making the leap to real estate and establishing a successful career at HomeLife Landmark brokerage in Don Mills, which caters to new Canadians with a long list of agents fluent in two or more languages.
Among the realtor's listings were several multimillion-dollar homes, including the one he disappeared from, on 1801 Featherstone Dr. in Mississauga. Mr. Fei, who is the sole director of a company that owns that house, was trying to sell it through Mr. Han for $2.4-million.
Mr. Voss said Chinese communities have an international reputation among kidnapping experts as being reticent to go to the police.
"Rightly or wrongly, Chinese around the world have a reputation for keeping within their community and not going to local authorities," Mr. Voss said. "They have a reputation for being good communities to kidnap against."
Mr. Han, 44, and Mr. Fei, 40, were reported missing by a relative of one of the men at around noon on the day after the two were last seen.
Peel Police say they have set up a task force of 10 to 20 people to investigate Mr. Han's death.
"I can't personally think of another case like this," said Constable George Tudos, a spokesman who has worked for the police force for the past 10 years.
"Such a high profile, kidnapping case with human remains found is very uncommon."
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High-profile kidnappings for ransom
Kidnappings for ransom are rare occurrences in Canada. Here are a few of the country's more high-profile cases:
Graham McMynn
Graham McMynn, the son of Vancouver businessman Robert McMynn, was kidnapped at gunpoint outside his parents' luxury home in April, 2006. The 24-year-old university student was held captive for eight days before police rescued him. No ransom demand was ever received by his family. Two men were later found guilty of unlawful confinement and kidnapping.
Cecilia Zhang
Nine-year-old Cecilia Zhang was snatched from her Toronto home in October, 2003, by Min Chen, who later said he had planned to hold her for ransom. Cecilia's remains were eventually discovered in a wooded ravine behind a Mississauga church and Mr. Chen was convicted of second-degree murder.
Cynthia Kilburn
One of Canada's most high-profile kidnapping cases was that of Cynthia Kilburn, the daughter of billionaire Vancouver businessman Jim Pattison. Ms. Kilburn was kidnapped in 1990 by two men who forced their way into her North Vancouver home and demanded an $8.5-million ransom. She was released after her father paid $200,000, but her young abductors were arrested soon after when they were caught taking a limousine on a shopping spree.
Jack Irving
Billionaire industrialist Jack Irving was kidnapped from his home in May, 1982, the year he turned 50. An out-of-work security guard with a fake gun wanted to take Mr. Irving's wife, Suzanne, hostage, but Mr. Irving persuaded him to take him instead. Police arrested Stephen Gerald Childs shortly after the kidnapping and freed Mr. Irving.