CANADA Canada - Lindsay Buziak, 24, Victoria, BC, 2 Feb 2008

[penelopemcswain]

The only reason I can see two people stabbing a petite woman over fifty times,is to make her boyfriend look like the guilty party....crime of passion ect.
I find it odd that someone would wear a dress,in particular an unusual one, to murder somebody,could the short blonde hair be a wig,indeed could the woman actually be a disguised man?
Property values can drop after a murder ,sometimes even causing people to sell their homes and move from a neighbourhood,who might that benefit?

I know this is from several years ago, but good point!

you know who would suffer most from this? the builder! he built all or a lot of the properties in the development IIRC. And builders do tend to make enemies. Hmm!

as a Realtor it wouldn't make sense to plan a murder just to lower property values so people move out and you have more houses to sell. that's way too much risk for a not-so-great reward, as all of those people moving out are still going to want to sell for what they think the house is worth (or what it was worth before the murder) even though they're moving out for the same reason nobody wants to be there. It would just be a mess.

 

[dotr]

Who could afford and want to commit a particularly bloody murder wearing a designer dress?


Dress bought at Victoria thrift store could break Saanich realtor murder case, says victim's father
cheknews.ca

 

[10ofRods]

The fake client who attacks a realtor who is showing a property is pretty close to a perfect crime. The perpetrator can usually pick his target because the photos of agents are often prominently displayed in promotional material and it is very common someone to request an agent they do not know ( either from adverts or referrals.) It is normal practice for the homeowner to be away when the house is being shown so there will be no potential witnesses and the perpetrator will have no links to the house.

There have been a number of high profile, unsolved crimes of this type in the US and now it the law in some states and standard practice elsewhere to have a prospective client come into the office and present photo id, which is photocopied before the agent shows the house. I was surprised this procedure was not in effect for Lindsay.

If the realtor ran even a remotely standard office, whether or not required by law, they would have insisted that all their young associates did exactly that. For many reasons, not least of which is liability for an expensive property. Most realtors don't want to risk their broker's license by a huge lawsuit (if the prospective client is a swindler or thief - typically, tax returns or a credit check are expected for a house worth $1M.

 

[chrisinmd]

How would the murderers know for sure there weren't any there without having some kind of connection to the builder or more likely the listing agent, or someone else who knew the house thoroughly?

Interesting point you raise. Someone else could have been their at the time very easily. Would they have killed the boyfriend as well if he had showed up on time? Or murdered another real estate agent as well if Lindsay had someone accompany her? Or would they have called off the hit?

 

[JSolt1210]

I just heard about this case on True Crime Garage and as a Realtor I have so many questions!!!


I think it's very strange that they chose this particular house for the hit. Most homes in this price range would have some type of camera or security system. Or at least it's far more likely that they will.
How would the murderers know for sure there weren't any there without having some kind of connection to the builder or more likely the listing agent, or someone else who knew the house thoroughly?

I also think it's really, really strange if the notion that Lindsay was a little uneasy, and told her boyfriend about it who was a Realtor (at the same firm!) - it's almost unconscionable to me that the obvious plan would not have been for him to just come along for the showing. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't have, especially if he didn't have any other pressing plans. I don't get this at all and it raises so many red flags to me even though he's supposedly been "cleared"

Because, I mean, come on! We ask other agents from our brokerage to accompany us all the time when we feel uneasy about things. It not only is not a big deal, it is also not up to, nor is it any business of the buyer client, who shows up at a showing from our office, or from the other side's office. The listing agent may be there, another agent-in-training, our broker (manager)...we normally don't even give buyers a heads up about who all will be there.
And if one ever objected it would raise a GIANT red flag like possibly time to contact the authorities red flag.

And the murderers would have had to know somehow that not only was this place vacant but that showings were unaccompanied, which is typically NOT in any of the info consumers would see. That is in the agent-to-agent info we get as licensed realtors in our database and is hidden from public view.

i'm sensing a definite real estate industry connection somewhere here, whether it was the boyfriend and / or his mom, or someone else in real estate who had access to this info and possibly someone who had shown the house previously and knew the ins and outs.

Thank you so much for your insider's viewpoint! I hadn't thought about it but it makes so much sense. There's no reason why a trainee, manager, etc. can't accompany an agent during a viewing, why a buyer would need to know or object to that. And if a buyer has no way of knowing how many people will be present, a drug cartel certainly won't.

So with that information, the real estate connection looks more promising. Since the police don't think it was Jason or his mom, then I wonder about the colleague suggested by retired RCMP detective Garry Rodgers. I won't directly name her here since she's not a suspect, but I've speculated about this upthread. I wonder if maybe this person was jealous of Lindsay rising so fast in that competitive industry. Maybe the "overkill" speaks to the jealousy and the perception of threat?

 

[penelopemcswain]

Thank you so much for your insider's viewpoint! I hadn't thought about it but it makes so much sense. There's no reason why a trainee, manager, etc. can't accompany an agent during a viewing, why a buyer would need to know or object to that. And if a buyer has no way of knowing how many people will be present, a drug cartel certainly won't.

So with that information, the real estate connection looks more promising. Since the police don't think it was Jason or his mom, then I wonder about the colleague suggested by retired RCMP detective Garry Rodgers. I won't directly name her here since she's not a suspect, but I've speculated about this upthread. I wonder if maybe this person was jealous of Lindsay rising so fast in that competitive industry. Maybe the "overkill" speaks to the jealousy and the perception of threat?

I hear where you're coming from but I think that's less likely. I can see a lot of reasons why an agent would suddenly leave a brokerage after a co-worker got murdered. That doesn't raise as may red flags for me as the boyfriend who seems so weirdly involved in everything about this yet still not right there at the time of the murder.
I think it's weird that he took her out for a "late lunch" only a few hours before he was to head out to eat at the event with his "friend" who wasn't really his friend. I think it's interesting that the male buyer called and said the female wouldn't be attending...almost as if Lindsay wasn't suspicious enough, perhaps hoping this would send her over the edge to where she would ask the boyfriend to accompany her, so that he would have this alibi of being near the scene.
I know they "cleared" him, I still think it doesn't add up or something still smells very fishy at least. I don't think anyone close to her should be ruled out tbh.

 

[Satchie]

I just heard about this case on True Crime Garage and as a Realtor I have so many questions!!!


I think it's very strange that they chose this particular house for the hit. Most homes in this price range would have some type of camera or security system. Or at least it's far more likely that they will.
How would the murderers know for sure there weren't any there without having some kind of connection to the builder or more likely the listing agent, or someone else who knew the house thoroughly?

I also think it's really, really strange if the notion that Lindsay was a little uneasy, and told her boyfriend about it who was a Realtor (at the same firm!) - it's almost unconscionable to me that the obvious plan would not have been for him to just come along for the showing. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't have, especially if he didn't have any other pressing plans. I don't get this at all and it raises so many red flags to me even though he's supposedly been "cleared"

Because, I mean, come on! We ask other agents from our brokerage to accompany us all the time when we feel uneasy about things. It not only is not a big deal, it is also not up to, nor is it any business of the buyer client, who shows up at a showing from our office, or from the other side's office. The listing agent may be there, another agent-in-training, our broker (manager)...we normally don't even give buyers a heads up about who all will be there.
And if one ever objected it would raise a GIANT red flag like possibly time to contact the authorities red flag.

And the murderers would have had to know somehow that not only was this place vacant but that showings were unaccompanied, which is typically NOT in any of the info consumers would see. That is in the agent-to-agent info we get as licensed realtors in our database and is hidden from public view.

i'm sensing a definite real estate industry connection somewhere here, whether it was the boyfriend and / or his mom, or someone else in real estate who had access to this info and possibly someone who had shown the house previously and knew the ins and outs.

I suppose all the circumstances surrounding any murder can appear weird if you compare them to all the similar scenarios where no one is murdered. But were they truly weird circumstances, or is it just the murder that makes them seem weird after the fact?

Do you know for sure the 'clients' chose the house to view, or did Lindsay? This article quotes police "the woman called Buziak earlier in the week, saying she wanted to look at properties priced in the million-dollar range." That implies Lindsay selected which homes to show.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...t-may-be-clue-in-b-c-homicide-police-1.769081

As well, this happened over 10 years ago, and a few things have changed:

Back in 2008, home video surveillance was not as common as it is now. Tiny cameras, wireless systems, digital files, removable high density storage, all came after 2008. Back then, big cameras were hardwired to record onto an expensive machine in the actual home, which I can't imagine the builder would purchase and install in an empty house.

The idea that a female real estate agent is physically vulnerable came into awareness because of this and other cases around that time "Buziak's death prompted industry-wide changes, including tighter security measures to protect real estate agents."
Who killed Lindsay Buziak? Family of murdered realtor seeks justice.

So just because you wouldn't do something now doesn't mean it wasn't normal then, especially in sleepy Victoria.

The whole scenario, that Lindsay asked her boyfriend to accompany her into the house because she was scared she might be murdered, appears to be a widely-held assumption, but there are no facts to back it up. The texts published on her father's site show she wasn't concerned that her boyfriend hadn't arrived yet: "okay I’ll see you in abit I gotta go the Mexicans are here”.
LINDSAY BUZIAK MURDER TIMELINE

There've been different speculations about why her boyfriend was meeting her at the house. Why immediately assume his actions were suspicious? If she hadn't been murdered, we'd just say he was quite caring and supportive, but also busy with deadlines. Is that really so weird, or is it just normal?

I don't think it's reasonable to assume Lindsay had a premonition she would be murdered. In that case, she would have arranged for someone to be with her. She may have been concerned about going into a house with a man alone, but why would she be scared of a couple? I think it much more likely she'd be nervous about handling negotiations and paperwork for such a large sale, when she was still a rookie and only 24. So perhaps she'd want her boyfriend's backup if it got to that stage.

I agree that someone had the idea ahead of time, of setting her up to believe she was going to sell a million dollar home, but instead killing her. To me, in those days, luring a real estate agent into showing a home seems a quite natural, even obvious way to isolate her, since she lived with her boyfriend, worked in a busy office, and was not the type to hang out in parking garages late at night...

If she had showed up with a companion, then she wouldn't have been murdered. But she did, and she was, according to the plan. The question is, what kind of person would make such a plan, and why? This is an extreme act, the motives also must be extreme, the killer someone quite comfortable and relaxed about making an appointment to murder someone very violently.

 

[murderinsaanich]

Lindsay was very uncomfortable going to the house alone. Jason was suppose to be keeping an eye on Lindsay.

No Jason was supposed to be at SHC.
SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING — THE TRUE STORY OF LINDSAY BUZIAK’S UNSOLVED MURDER


SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING — THE TRUE STORY OF LINDSAY BUZIAK’S UNSOLVED MURDER - Dying Words

 

[murderinsaanich]

Thank you so much for your insider's viewpoint! I hadn't thought about it but it makes so much sense. There's no reason why a trainee, manager, etc. can't accompany an agent during a viewing, why a buyer would need to know or object to that. And if a buyer has no way of knowing how many people will be present, a drug cartel certainly won't.

So with that information, the real estate connection looks more promising. Since the police don't think it was Jason or his mom, then I wonder about the colleague suggested by retired RCMP detective Garry Rodgers. I won't directly name her here since she's not a suspect, but I've speculated about this upthread. I wonder if maybe this person was jealous of Lindsay rising so fast in that competitive industry. Maybe the "overkill" speaks to the jealousy and the perception of threat?

I just heard about this case on True Crime Garage and as a Realtor I have so many questions!!!


I think it's very strange that they chose this particular house for the hit. Most homes in this price range would have some type of camera or security system. Or at least it's far more likely that they will.
How would the murderers know for sure there weren't any there without having some kind of connection to the builder or more likely the listing agent, or someone else who knew the house thoroughly?

I also think it's really, really strange if the notion that Lindsay was a little uneasy, and told her boyfriend about it who was a Realtor (at the same firm!) - it's almost unconscionable to me that the obvious plan would not have been for him to just come along for the showing. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't have, especially if he didn't have any other pressing plans. I don't get this at all and it raises so many red flags to me even though he's supposedly been "cleared"

Because, I mean, come on! We ask other agents from our brokerage to accompany us all the time when we feel uneasy about things. It not only is not a big deal, it is also not up to, nor is it any business of the buyer client, who shows up at a showing from our office, or from the other side's office. The listing agent may be there, another agent-in-training, our broker (manager)...we normally don't even give buyers a heads up about who all will be there.
And if one ever objected it would raise a GIANT red flag like possibly time to contact the authorities red flag.

And the murderers would have had to know somehow that not only was this place vacant but that showings were unaccompanied, which is typically NOT in any of the info consumers would see. That is in the agent-to-agent info we get as licensed realtors in our database and is hidden from public view.

i'm sensing a definite real estate industry connection somewhere here, whether it was the boyfriend and / or his mom, or someone else in real estate who had access to this info and possibly someone who had shown the house previously and knew the ins and outs.

I just heard about this case on True Crime Garage and as a Realtor I have so many questions!!!


I think it's very strange that they chose this particular house for the hit. Most homes in this price range would have some type of camera or security system. Or at least it's far more likely that they will.
How would the murderers know for sure there weren't any there without having some kind of connection to the builder or more likely the listing agent, or someone else who knew the house thoroughly?

I also think it's really, really strange if the notion that Lindsay was a little uneasy, and told her boyfriend about it who was a Realtor (at the same firm!) - it's almost unconscionable to me that the obvious plan would not have been for him to just come along for the showing. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't have, especially if he didn't have any other pressing plans. I don't get this at all and it raises so many red flags to me even though he's supposedly been "cleared"

Because, I mean, come on! We ask other agents from our brokerage to accompany us all the time when we feel uneasy about things. It not only is not a big deal, it is also not up to, nor is it any business of the buyer client, who shows up at a showing from our office, or from the other side's office. The listing agent may be there, another agent-in-training, our broker (manager)...we normally don't even give buyers a heads up about who all will be there.
And if one ever objected it would raise a GIANT red flag like possibly time to contact the authorities red flag.

And the murderers would have had to know somehow that not only was this place vacant but that showings were unaccompanied, which is typically NOT in any of the info consumers would see. That is in the agent-to-agent info we get as licensed realtors in our database and is hidden from public view.

i'm sensing a definite real estate industry connection somewhere here, whether it was the boyfriend and / or his mom, or someone else in real estate who had access to this info and possibly someone who had shown the house previously and knew the ins and outs.

Lindsay's best friend is the person who keyed in the Desousa property listing into the system. She was connected to the Calgary drug ring. That is a fact. You did not have to be a listing agent or be connected to the builder to know about the Desousa listing that is silly. Investigators have corroborating evidence from multiple sources that support Lindsay was not apprehensive about the showing and she did not request Jason accompany her to the showing. Jason was at a scheduled meeting at SCH those were his pressing plans. Lindsay did not want anyone to accompany her to the showing otherwise she would have asked. This knowledge should lower your red flags.

No Jason was supposed to be at SHC.
SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING — THE TRUE STORY OF LINDSAY BUZIAK’S UNSOLVED MURDER


SOMEONE KNOWS SOMETHING — THE TRUE STORY OF LINDSAY BUZIAK’S UNSOLVED MURDER - Dying Words

Facts presented by the investigator who has direct knowledge of the case.

Crime Watch Daily Pt. 1

Crime Watch Daily Pt. 2

Crime Watch Daily Pt. 3

 

[Enaj]

Nope, Jason said he would be there @ 5:30, why did he say he was a couple minutes away. <modsnip - personalizing and bickering>

 

[murderinsaanich]

It's 10 yrs today since Lindsay was murdered. What are the SPD waiting for I wonder?

The SP is waiting for the Crown.

Nope, Jason said he would be there @ 5:30, why did he say he was a couple minutes away. <modsnip - personalizing and bickering>

According to the investigators, Jason arrived at 545 pm to drop off real estate documents Lindsay had asked him to drop off to her. Jason never told anyone he would be at the house at 530 pm.

 

[wyome]

I just watched a special on this case for the first time. Very strange this case has not been solved. For those that are very familiar, I'm just curious if anyone gave any descriptions of the car the clients arrived in? And with boyfriend witnessing shadows from the inside, surely the clients were still in the home on the first floor while he waited outside for her to respond to his texts. So is the theory that they exited a side door and then walked around to the front on the home, got in the car and left without anyone noticing?

Did boyfriend & his friend, who finally made entrance to the home notice blood droppings everywhere? She was stabbed so many times, you'd think there'd be somewhat of a blood trail.

Neither of these things were mentioned in the special that aired.

 

[chrisinmd]

I think about the only chance to solve this is if they arrest someone in this drug gang on some other charges and they decide they want to provide some information in exchange for a lighter sentence and witness protection.

Was there any scientific evidence that maybe can be tested in the future using better technology? Dna testing has come a long way in the last decade.

 

[Tuffgong]

If this was in fact tied to a Mexican cartel, nobody is rolling over on anybody. Mark it unsolved, forever.

 

[Satchie]

I just watched a special on this case for the first time. Very strange this case has not been solved. For those that are very familiar, I'm just curious if anyone gave any descriptions of the car the clients arrived in? And with boyfriend witnessing shadows from the inside, surely the clients were still in the home on the first floor while he waited outside for her to respond to his texts. So is the theory that they exited a side door and then walked around to the front on the home, got in the car and left without anyone noticing?

Did boyfriend & his friend, who finally made entrance to the home notice blood droppings everywhere? She was stabbed so many times, you'd think there'd be somewhat of a blood trail.

Neither of these things were mentioned in the special that aired.

The house is on a short cul de sac (dead-end) at the corner with a busier road (Torquay).
1702 DeSousa Place

A witness saw the couple walk from Torquay into the cul de sac, to the front entrance where they greeted Lindsay. So they left the vehicle on Torquay (or possibly a driver was waiting).

Jason arrived apparently just after the murder, he saw the couple starting to come out the front door, so they apparently went back in the house and went out the side patio door (leaving it open), and found or possibly made a hole in the brown fence on the left side that gives privacy to the patio. They would be steps from Torquay and their car, meanwhile Jason had pulled up just past the house front door, where this couldn't be seen.

Police have never mentioned a description of the suspect's vehicle: unfortunately far fewer cameras back then.

There's no mention of a trail of Lindsay's blood, but police may be holding that info back. It seems to me possible that Jason saw one, and that's why he ran right up to the bedroom.

 

[chrisinmd]

If this was in fact tied to a Mexican cartel, nobody is rolling over on anybody. Mark it unsolved, forever.

Are Mexican Drug cartels more known for not flipping then say the Irish or Italian Mob in the USA? Im thinking Sammy "the bull" flipping on John Gotti. My guess would be Mexican cartels would be more brutal in their response. Most likely kill all your family back in Mexico as well.

 

[dotr]

Would a Mex. cartel send a woman to kill another woman?
Again, cannot see why a killer would wear a designer dress to commit a brutal and bloody murder.
Does the female suspect look Asian, Eastern European, Hispanic, or male to anyone, although described as Caucasion?
speculation, imo.
Archive: Have you seen this woman?; Police release sketch, description of suspects in Buziak killing
"Saanich police spokesman Sgt. John Price released a sketch yesterday, a year and a day after Buziak's death, of a Caucasian woman, 35 to 45 years old, with short blond hair. Police said the male suspect is believed to be Caucasian, six feet tall with dark hair.

Both were described as well-dressed, the man wearing a light- to medium-coloured jacket, and the woman possibly wearing a black designer skirt or dress patterned with thick white and red swirls.

Police arrived at the descriptions through statements from several witnesses, Price said. But he would not confirm whether the couple was seen near the house at 1702 De Sousa Pl. on the day Buziak, 24, was killed.

Buziak had been lured to the house by a female caller on Feb. 2, 2008. The caller said she was interested in million-dollar listings. They arranged a showing at 5:30 p.m. Later that day, a man called Buziak and said he would meet with her alone. She went, despite initial hesitation. She was found dead at 6:15 p.m."
Photos

Sketch released by police in February 2009.
Photograph By Files

Photos: The Lindsay Buziak case

Out with the girls.Facebook / Times Colonist

Lindsay Buziak, 24, left, a real estate agent found dead at 1702 De Sousa Place in Saanich on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Her boyfriend, Jason Zailo, is at right.
Facebook / Times Colonist

 

[chrisinmd]

Would a Mex. cartel send a woman to kill another woman?
Again, cannot see why a killer would wear a designer dress to commit a brutal and bloody murder.
es Colonist

I would agree female hired killers would be a very rare thing. But if anybody has the resources to have female killers it would be Mexican Drug Cartels. The closest example I can think of is Muslim female suicide bombers which happen quite a bit.

On the designer dress issue if you are trying to pass yourself off as wealthy home buyers you would want to dress the part.

 

[Satchie]

Would a Mex. cartel send a woman to kill another woman?
Again, cannot see why a killer would wear a designer dress to commit a brutal and bloody murder.
Does the female suspect look Asian, Eastern European, Hispanic, or male to anyone, although described as Caucasion?
speculation, imo.
Archive: Have you seen this woman?; Police release sketch, description of suspects in Buziak killing
"Saanich police spokesman Sgt. John Price released a sketch yesterday, a year and a day after Buziak's death, of a Caucasian woman, 35 to 45 years old, with short blond hair. Police said the male suspect is believed to be Caucasian, six feet tall with dark hair.

Both were described as well-dressed, the man wearing a light- to medium-coloured jacket, and the woman possibly wearing a black designer skirt or dress patterned with thick white and red swirls.

Police arrived at the descriptions through statements from several witnesses, Price said. But he would not confirm whether the couple was seen near the house at 1702 De Sousa Pl. on the day Buziak, 24, was killed.

Buziak had been lured to the house by a female caller on Feb. 2, 2008. The caller said she was interested in million-dollar listings. They arranged a showing at 5:30 p.m. Later that day, a man called Buziak and said he would meet with her alone. She went, despite initial hesitation. She was found dead at 6:15 p.m."
Photos

Sketch released by police in February 2009.
Photograph By Files

Photos: The Lindsay Buziak case

Out with the girls.Facebook / Times Colonist

Lindsay Buziak, 24, left, a real estate agent found dead at 1702 De Sousa Place in Saanich on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Her boyfriend, Jason Zailo, is at right.
Facebook / Times Colonist

I'm not sure about cartels, but many Mexicans are Caucasian being decendents of Spanish immigrants. It's odd to watch TV there, every one is white, often blond.

 

[jbirner]

I think the women was there to make it appear they were actually a couple looking to buy the house in order to get Lindsay there to the house and feel at ease. IMO, I don't believe the woman actually participated in the actual killing but probably helped in the clean up after the fact.