A London man wanted since mid-August for sexually assaulting and trafficking a Whitby woman may be in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Matthew Parris-Cassidy, 32, of London is one of three men charged in the incident which began in May.
According to London police, that is when the woman met a man she had been chatting with on social media at a shopping centre in Scarborough. The man offered to drive the woman home after the meeting, but took her in the wrong direction. He then allegedly threatened the woman with a gun to get her to comply with his demands.
Over a two week period starting on June 5, the woman was forced to attend various locations outside of London where she was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions. On June 18, she was forced to perform sexual acts for money in various locations in London. The woman was then introduced to two other men who allegedly sexually assaulted her and then forced her to perform sexual acts for money, police said.
The woman managed to escape from the men and call police on June 26.
Following an investigation, Parris-Cassidy, along with Justin Steven Adams, 35, of London, and Jonathan Drummond, 37, of no fixed address were charged by way of warrant with trafficking a person by exercising control, forcible confinement, sexual assault, uttering threats to cause death, extortion, financially benefitting from trafficking a person over 18, material benefit from sexual services, and procuring a person to provide sexual services.
Parris-Cassidy was additionally charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and robbery.
While Adams and Drummond were arrested in August, Parris-Cassidy remains on the run.
On Tuesday, police said they believe he has ties to the GTA and appealed for anyone with information about his whereabouts to call them.
Investigators have said they suspect there are other victims in the case and for a second time are encouraging anyone who may have fallen victim to call them at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
