Manuel Desa

"It's okay Manny, it's me, Chris."

Those were the words that 33-year-old Manuel Desa heard before he was stabbed and left to die in the driveway of his home at 25 Royal Colwood Ct. in Vaughan. 

Manuel had just returned home from visiting a neighbour with his common-law wife and her daughter. As they arrived, they were met by two men waiting at the front steps.

Manuel's partner and her daughter continued past the men to the front door. But a struggle ensued behind her in the driveway, before Manuel was stabbed. He died later, en route to the hospital. 

The two men, described as white, stocky, broad-shouldered men in their 20s - one with short, light-coloured hair and light-coloured eyes, the other with short, dark hair - fled the scene in a white or beige car.

But not before leaving behind key evidence.

During the struggle, one of the men dropped a black boot with a tan sole, on the boulevard near the street. 

Now, police are hoping the evidence, coupled with a $50,000 reward issued by the York Regional Police Services Board in December 2015, will lead to the identification of Manuel's killers.

At the time of his death, Manuel owned a framing business known as Camarites Construction, in addition to Ridge 2000 and Blue Star Construction. He was involved with Union Local 183 (now known as Liuna Local 183), and Carpenters Union Local 27.

From the cold case files

Crime Scene Photographs

Points of Interest

Help solve Manuel's murder

Do you have information about the murder of Manuel Desa? Can you help identify the two attackers? 

If so, please contact the York Regional Police Cold Case Unit at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7865 or email the investigators directly. Want to remain anonymous? Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, leave a tip online at www.1800222tips.com or text a tip by sending TIPYORK and a message to CRIMES (274637).