Real estate agent found dead in Saanich home
Saanich police scour Gordon Head neighbourhood for clues in homicide; colleagues say agent, 24, had bad feeling about showing at vacant house
Saanich police are searching for the person who killed Lindsay Buziak, a 24-year-old real estate agent found dead in a vacant Gordon Head home.
Police went to 1702 De Sousa Pl. at about 6 p.m. on Saturday after they received a 911 call asking them to check on someone there. Officers found the body of Buziak, an agent with Re/Max Camosun, inside the newly built home, which is listed for sale.
"We didn't know what was happening. Then we quickly realized it was a little more serious," Const. Brad Brajcich said Sunday.
Police are not saying how Buziak died, however Brajcich confirmed the death is being investigated as a homicide. So far, officers have no suspects and no one was in custody as of Sunday night.
Yesterday, police said there appears to be no evidence to show Buziak was targeted because of her occupation. But rumours are circulating in the real estate community that a number of people at the office knew Buziak had a bad feeling about an appointment made Saturday afternoon to see a home.
Re/Max agent Laurie Lidstone, who shares the listing for the $964,900 house with Nancy DiCastri, said the buyer never called either of them for an appointment to see it.
"It really makes you wonder," said Lidstone. "Someone specifically called this girl to show a vacant house. It sounds pre-planned. It sounds pre-meditated."
Family and friends are reeling from her death. Buziak's father, Jeff Buziak, was to fly to Victoria Sunday night to be with her mother, Evelyn Reitmayer, and her sister Sara, who is flying in from the Cayman Islands.
"She was the most beautiful girl you could ever meet," said Buziak. "I miss her so much. I love her so much. Lindsay was vibrant, full of life, loved by everybody. She had oodles of friends. She was so focused on her career. She thought it was the greatest thing. She was a tremendous young woman."
Buziak was born in Victoria and attended Lakehill Elementary School and Reynolds Secondary School, said her father. After high school, she got her real estate licence, first working as an assistant in Victoria, then moving to Vancouver to work for Maverick Real Estate Corporation, a development company. She then returned to Victoria, signing on with Re/Max Camosun. She prided herself on the personalized service she gave her clients.
Jeff Buziak, who has a career in industrial real estate in Calgary, said his daughter wasn't following in his footsteps.
"She found what she loved and that's what she wanted to do."
Buziak's uncle Gary Reitmayer described her as a great person.
"I don't think she's ever done anyone wrong," said Reitmayer. "We have no idea what happened. It's a mystery to all of us. She was a kind-hearted beautiful person."
Buziak was among the youngest of the 1,300 real estate agents working in the region.
Chris Markham, president-elect of the Victoria Real Estate Board, estimated that fewer than 20 real estate agents would be under 25 years old.
Staff and agents at the Re/Max Camosun office were instructed not to comment to the media about the incident.
Wayne Schrader, who owns the office, simply said: "Everyone in the office is shell-shocked and our thoughts are with Lindsay's family."
De Sousa Place is a new cul de sac, off Torquay Drive, in Gordon Head. When police realized they were dealing with a violent crime on Saturday night, they cordoned off Torquay Drive, between Kenmore Road and San Juan Avenue, blocking all access to the scene.
The street was still blocked Sunday as police officers went door to door, interviewing residents on the normally quiet neighbouring streets. Drivers, walkers and joggers were prevented from making their way down the block. Police expect to be on site for the next 48 hours.
Saanich's emergency command bus, patrol cars and unmarked cars were parked on the street outside the brown two-storey home. Forensic identification experts in white jumpsuits and the coroner arrived at the scene Sunday, and the young woman's body was eventually removed from the house in the early afternoon.
Red-jacketed search and rescue crews also helped police comb through the yards, garages and building materials on the quiet cul de sac. They were looking for a weapon and other evidence linked to the homicide, said Brajcich.
Suzette and George Linger, who are building a house on De Sousa Place, drove over to find out what was going on.
"There's nobody living in any of those houses," said Suzette. "They're all new houses not lived in yet. They're all for sale. And our house is under construction right next door to it. We have no idea what's going on."
The cul de sac is owned by the De Sousa family. Their son Joe De Sousa moved the old family home off the parcel of land, created a new subdivision and divided it into four lots, said Suzette.
"It's brand new. The subdivision just got approved this past year."
The home at 1702 De Sousa Pl. is is described as an outstanding executive home in a brand new upscale small four lot subdivision. It has five bedrooms and four bathrooms.
