Police search for witnesses in 'suspicious' disappearance of Vaughan man

Alexandr 'Sasha' Puryga, 41, from Vaughan. (York Regional Police Service)

Police are asking for witnesses in the "suspicious" disappearance of a man from Vaughan.

York police said they responded to a missing person call on Tuesday after Alexandr "Sasha" Puryga, 41, did not show up at work.

According to police, his workplace is in the area of 7th Concession and 16th Sideroad in the Township of King, and his car – a white 2012 Mercedes Benz two-door sedan – was found nearby.

York Regional Police Const. Kevin Nebrija told CP24 in an interview that Puryga was due for a work meeting in the area and said he works in the "industry of building armoured vehicles."

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Officers said they are searching for a black 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was seen in the area. They add the vehicle has dark-tinted windows, black-spoked rims and Ontario licence plate CXZE382. This particular licence plate is registered to a non-existent business, police add.

An image of the suspect vehicle. (York Regional Police Service)

"We can't confirm if that is a place of where he is but that is the area where he was due to be, and so because we did find his vehicle unoccupied, along with the Cherokee being identified, we are appealing to witnesses to come forward," Nebrija said.

At this time, Nebirja adds there is nothing to suggest that Puryga is connected to the suspect vehicle. 

Police said they are treating his disappearance as suspicious and both officers and Puryga's family are concerned for his well-being.

Investigators are looking to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of 7th Concession and 16th Sideroad on Aug. 13 between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Police describe Puryga as a five-foot-nine white man with a muscular build, weighing 170 pounds, with grey eyes and short, blond hair.

While this is the third suspicious disappearance York Regional Police's homicide unit has been involved in over the last few weeks, Nebrija said there is no indication that any of these cases are connected.

Yuk-Ying Anita Mui, a 56-year-old woman from Markham, disappeared under circumstances on Aug. 9, and Ying Zhang, a 57-year-old woman also from Markham, was last seen on July 25.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact the homicide unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7865 or email [e-mail]. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers.