On Tuesday, December 4, 2003, Frania Cardenas, 33 years-of-age, was reported missing by a concerned friend, who had not seen or heard from her since Saturday November 29, 2003.
A comprehensive police search of her apartment and the surrounding area, revealed no trace of the missing woman.
At the time, Frania Cardenas shared an apartment with her estranged husband, Yanga Wanji (31 years-of-age at the time of this crime) at 620 Evans Avenue, in the Browns Line and Evans Avenue area of Toronto.
Both were employed as security guards, but by different companies.
Investigation revealed that on the evening proceeding the day of her disappearance, the victim met with a male acquaintance in her apartment. The same evening, her husband returned home from work unexpectedly.
The next morning, Frania Cardenas contacted a friend from her apartment and informed her that she was going to come over to her place by bus. She never arrived.
The investigation placed the victim and her husband together, at an ATM a short distance from her home and not far from the TTC bus stop opposite her building. This was at a date and time consistent with the arrival of a bus that would have taken her to her friend’s residence. Ms. Cardenas was not seen or heard from again.
The day after his wife’s disappearance, Yanga Wangi attempted to enter the United States at Detroit, Michigan. He was turned back as he was attempting to enter as a visitor, but was found to be in possession of virtually all his belongings.
He returned to Toronto and on Wednesday, December 5, 2005, flew on a one-way ticket to Nairobi, Kenya. He never returned.
In November, 2007, the remains of Frania Cardenas were found in an area of bush land in the Bracebridge area of Central Ontario.
Based on the totality of the investigation, homicide investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Yanga Wangi, for the murder of Frania Cardenas.
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