According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s office, the attacker had met the girl through an online gaming platform and became obsessed with her over the period of a year.
A North Vancouver man accused of developing an obsession with a woman he met through online gaming flew to California, posed as a delivery driver and stabbed the girl and her boyfriend, police allege.
Devin Wolfgang Vandorhoef, a 25-year-old B.C. man, was arrested Nov. 25 and remains in custody in California. Darius Avery Whyte, a 25-year-old Ontario man, was also arrested.
The pair are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, and other charges.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s office, Vandorhoef met the girl through an online gaming platform and became obsessed with her over the period of a year.
Police say Vandorhoef and Whyte eventually flew to Salinas, Calif. where the girl lived. He began to follow her and learned her routine without her knowing, said police.
On Nov. 25, just before 10 p.m., police allege Vandorhoef visited the girl’s home while posing as a delivery driver with a package.
“Our victim’s boyfriend opened the door and Vandorhoef forced his way in and began stabbing the boyfriend with a knife resulting in multiple critical injuries,” alleged Andres Rosas with the Monterey County Sheriff’s office.
Rosas said the girl then grabbed a “sharp metal object and began defending her boyfriend.” The girl was “strangled and stabbed.”
The attacker also received “multiple critical stab wounds,” police said.
Several neighbours called police. All three people in the home had stab injuries, ranging from minor to critical. They were taken to hospital and all are expected to survive.
Police allege the package carried by Vandorhoef contained handcuffs, duct tape and knives.
“It is unknown how these items were intended on being used,” police said in a statement.
Whyte, who police accused of being Vandorhoef’s co-conspirator, was arrested near the attack scene but said he had no knowledge of what happened and was released. Police arrested Whyte the following morning as he sat on a plane at San Jose Mineta International Airport, preparing to fly back to Canada.
Vandorhoef’s bail was set at US$4.15 million, while Whyte’s bail is set at US$1 million.
On Monday, both Vandorhoef and Whyte appeared in court to answer to the charges. They are due back in court on Dec. 10.