Man found dead hours after being abducted

Victim was dragged out of home by armed suspects wearing masks, witness says

CONCEPTION BAY SOUTH, N.L.— Police in Newfoundland are looking for suspects they describe as “armed and dangerous” after a man was allegedly abducted from his home in Conception Bay South and found dead outside another residence just hours later.

Officers responded to a 911 hang-up call at a residence in the town’s Seal Cove neighbourhood at around 4 a.m. on Saturday, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said Sunday.

Upon arrival, officers found the house engulfed in flames.

According to police, a witness told them several armed people wearing masks had forced their way inside the home and dragged the man out against his will.

About four hours later, police were called to a residence a few kilometres away in the town’s Bayview Heights area where the man’s body had been left on the home’s driveway.

“We do believe that this was not a random act of violence,” Const. Geoffrey Higdon told a news conference. “However, we do believe these individuals have certainly shown what they’re capable of.

“If you put into consideration the home invasion, a kidnapping, a fire . . . a suspicious death — of course we think that these individuals are dangerous people.”

Investigators believe there may be a connection between the suspects and the deceased, Higdon said.

Police have not determined the origins of the fire, he said, but believe it to be “suspicious.” Higdon said a female resident was inside the home during the fire and sustained minor injuries.

Police have not found evidence to suggest a connection between the crime and the location where the body found, according to Higdon. He said it’s possible the driveway was a “very random,” quiet location.

The name of the dead man hasn’t been released.

Police said he was 25 years old and the cause of death is still under investigation.

Police are also looking into a serious assault on a man believed to have been stabbed Saturday in Paradise, a 20-minute drive from Conception Bay South.

Higdon said the assault is being treated as a separate incident, however, police are not ruling out a possible connection between the crimes.

Conception Bay South is a town of about 25,000 people located southwest of St. John’s on the southern shore of Conception Bay on the Avalon Peninsula.