The husband of a 51-year-old Dill Township woman who was the victim of an apparent home invasion and assault Monday morning has provided additional details on the suspect, who is still at-large.
Sudbury.com spoke to Tim Russell this afternoon at the couple's trailer home on Secord Road, just south of Sudbury between Wanup and Estaire off Highway 69.
His wife, Lillian Russell, who did not speak to Sudbury.com as she is still recovering from her ordeal, went missing for over 12 hours Aug. 21 after a man entered the home and forced her out under duress.
Tim Russell and the couple's two dogs were not home at the time.
She emerged from the thick bush that surrounds the road at approximately 9 p.m. and made her way back home.
OPP spokesperson Cst. André Taschereau confirmed yesterday that Russell had been assaulted but declined to comment on the nature of the assault, saying that Russell was admitted to Health Sciences North as a precaution but was released without injury.
Tim Russell says the family is asking for privacy so they can heal from this experience. He said he would like to provide details of the incident but did not want to hinder the police investigation.
"I'd like to be able to talk about it, but I just can't," he said, citing the active OPP investigation and the family's wish for privacy.
But he did offer more details on the suspect, which police describe as a white man aged 30-40 with long dark hair and a beard.
Russell says the man is about six feet tall and has white streaks in his hair.
“It's a striking feature,” said Russell.
He also said the man was wearing dark clothes at the time of the incident and has a raspy voice.
“I want him caught,” said Russell.
He appeared shaken by the knowledge that something like this could happen on this remote residential area thick with bush.
"It can happen anywhere," he said.
As Sudbury.com first reported yesterday, a neighbour discovered Russell's seemingly abandoned car on the side of the road about 500 metres away from her home at 7:30 a.m. Monday. On the ground near the vehicle, the neighbour, who did not want to be named, found a set of keys, a watch, and a kitchen knife. He discovered a woman's handbag — presumably belonging to Russell — discarded in the ditch across the road.
The neighbour alerted police and the OPP deployed a canine unit, emergency response team and a helicopter to the area but were unable to locate Russell.
What happened in those more than 12 hours that she was effectively missing or how she managed to return home that night are not currently known.
Taschereau told Sudbury.com today that the OPP's Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Det. Sgt. Mike Laxton and Det. Const. Rob Lewis, are heading up the case.
Officers are still out canvassing in the Secord Road area and a heightened police presence was observed in the area earlier today.
Sudbury.com spoke to several residents in the area, none of whom recalled seeing anything strange or suspicious in the neighbourhood or anyone matching the description of the suspect.
But there is something people in the area can do to assist police in the hunt for the suspect, Taschereau said. His message: keep your eyes peeled and tell police about anything out of the ordinary.
"We put out the public safety message for people to be vigilant," Taschereau said, including locking doors and keeping outside lights on.
But besides protecting themselves and their property, he said vigilance means be aware of what's happening in the neighbourhood.
"We get comfortable in the neighbourhood where we live, because we know the people," Taschereau said. "But is there something new? Who's driving down your street? What's going on around you? Do you notice anyone who doesn't fit?
"Even if it's something you saw Monday morning. You might think it's trivial, but it might not be."
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the OPP at 888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) and report the information.
