The body a woman found in York Region and a man's body found in Durham Region have been linked in a possible murder-suicide.

The body of a missing 27-year-old Newmarket woman was found by York Region police in a house on the main street of Sutton, near Lake Simcoe, on Saturday.

Investigators have not officially released her name and have refused to say how she died, but people who knew and worked with her said she was Brenda Healey of Newmarket.

Earlier Saturday, the man now suspected of killing her, Steve Daniel, 41, was killed by a train near Thorah, in Durham Region's Brock Township, 50 kilometres east of Sutton.

Two investigations were launched until Durham police found a car linked to Healey near the train tracks, and a car registered to Daniel was found at the home in Sutton.

"The two investigations are linked," is all York Region police Inspector Mark Brown would say, adding police are not looking for any other suspects.

Daniel, a former resident of Sutton, once lived next door to the home of the family friend where Healey's body was found.

Healey's family refused comment when contacted by the Star.

Both Daniel and Healey worked in nearby Pefferlaw for Lois and Doug Andrews, who operate a bus company called Have Bus Will Travel, as well a private transportation company that serves the disabled.

Daniel worked as a dispatcher; Healey was a driver. Daniel had also lived in the Andrews' home for the past nine years.

"We are just floored," Lois Andrews said yesterday at their country home near Highway 48 and Pefferlaw Rd. as they tried to come to terms with the deaths.

The couple, who last saw Daniel on Friday, said they did not suspect anything was wrong.

Daniel's last words on Friday – "See you at 10 o'clock" – to Doug Andrews, indicated he would return later that night.

Lois and Doug Andrews described Daniel as a charming, friendly and loyal employee who went to the local Knox United Church. As far as they knew, Daniel and Healey were just friends.

Other residents of Sutton who knew Daniel, however, said there was a dark side to the man, whose family once owned what is now Village Traditions, a small gift store on High St.

Several residents told the Star Daniel had spent time in jail after he stabbed a woman about a decade ago.

Outside the home yesterday, homicide investigators, in a large mobile command trailer, waited for a search warrant to enter the house.

The home belongs to John Learoyd, whose father Harold Learoyd was a well-known town dentist for many years.

John Learoyd, who is believed to be in his 70s, has been in a Newmarket hospital for the past month after he was injured in a fall.

It's unclear whether Daniel had access to Learoyd's house, but neighbours and friends said that the two got along well, with Daniel often helping him with errands and other tasks.

-- Torstar Network