Flight from justice

After the bloody murder came a panicked getaway across Ontario and a pursuit over three European countries, ending in capture. In the second of three parts, the Hamilton Spectator's Nicole O'Reilly retraces the fugitives' steps

- NICOLE O'REILLY

DEADLY BETRAYAL PART TWO OF A THREE-PART SERIES

Tyler Pratt and Jordyn Romano expected to meet their friends for a routine real-estate inspection in Hamilton, and a dinner together afterward at a nice restaurant in Oakville.

Their friends, Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li, planned something more sinister.

When Pratt and Romano arrived in their usual white Range Rover, Karafa and Li were already there in a car Pratt and Romano didn't recognize, a white Audi.

The two vehicles parked facing each other at the back of an industrial building at 347 Arvin Ave. in Stoney Creek.

Where's the realtor? Pratt asked.

They were expecting a man named Michael to show them around, but he was nowhere to be seen. What's more, they were locked out of the building.

Li was sent to look for a lockbox; she didn't find one - that's because no one had actually made plans to view the property.

Romano, who was 13 weeks pregnant and cold, returned to their Range Rover to warm up. Li was directed to join her while the guys talked.

Romano was dressed up, in a tan sweater and thigh-high Christian Louboutin boots. She believed the foursome was going out for dinner at the restaurant Soto Soto in Oakville afterward. It was strange, she thought, that Li-usually impeccably dressed - was in sweats. She "showed up in rags," Romano said.

Romano and Pratt had known Karafa about four months, since they started investing in one of his businesses. Over the preceding months, they met often. Pratt and Karafa spoke almost daily. Romano believed the two couples had become good friends.

Indeed, Pratt and Romano bought Karafa a diamond chain as a gift for his birthday a week earlier. And two days earlier, Karafa messaged them about taking a trip to Italy in June. Li spoke to Romano about her upcoming baby shower.

But inside the car that day, something seemed off.