Investigators have identified two men who potentially witnessed an arson at the home of a Ukrainian priest and his family nearly two weeks ago.
In the early hours of Wednesday, April 20, Father Yuriy Vyshnevskyy says his wife heard a noise on the front porch of their Fernwood home and when she investigated, she saw gasoline being poured through her home’s mail slot.
A fire erupted as she ran upstairs to wake her husband and the family of five narrowly escaped, with one of the couple’s young daughters suffering a severe cut caused by broken glass as she jumped from the second floor.
Victoria police’s major crimes unit is investigating and has deemed the fire an arson.
Last week, police released surveillance footage of a potential witness vehicle driving past the home, in the 1100-block of Caledonia Avenue, in the moments before the fire was sparked. Police said Monday footage released of the vehicle has resulted in “several tips.”
On Monday, they also released images of two witnesses who may have information relevant to the ongoing investigation. Neither of the men are considered suspects.
The first is described as being around 50 years old, six feet tall with a medium build, short, dark brown hair, clean shaven and was wearing a brown jacket with black areas near the shoulders, over a black sweater. He was also wearing dark blue jeans and dark lace-up shoes.
The man was seen in the area of Cook Street and Caledonia Avenue just after 1 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20.
The second man, also seen in the same area just after 1 a.m., is described as around 25 years old, Caucasian or Middle Eastern and standing 6’2″. He has medium-length dark brown hair that is shorter on the sides and back and longer on top, as well as a short beard. He was wearing a dark blue hooded coat, olive-brown pants, dark shoes and an army green backpack.
Anyone who recognizes either potential witness is asked to call police at 250-995-7654 extension 1.
Meanwhile, friends of the displaced Vishnevskyy family say they are just starting to come to terms with the trauma they’ve experienced and now they’re facing a new challenge — trying to find a place to live.
“The challenge is it’s going to be 12 to 18 months at the earliest and now with a 1 per cent vacancy rate in Victoria there’s not a lot to choose from,” said Alec Rossa, President of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church.
“We need to find somewhere that they can live that’s suitable ideally furnished three to four bedrooms in the Greater Victoria area.”
It’s unclear how long the family will have to rent as the church, which owns the home that the family had been living in, waits to hear whether it can be restored or will need to be torn down.
For now the church has launched a fundraiser to help the family cover rent and other expenses for as long as they might need it.
Two other GoFundMe campaigns to help the family with other expenses have raised close to $57,000.
April Lawrence
