Sonia Varaschin, a 42-year-old nurse from Orangeville, Ont., was last heard from on Sunday. (Orangeville Police Service)

Police are telling the family of a missing Orangeville, Ont., woman to brace for the worst as the search for Sonia Varaschin entered its fourth day.

Ontario Provincial Police Det.-Insp. Mark Pritchard said, "We're always going to maintain hope but at this point we're preparing the family and ourselves for the worst."

Pritchard said they're asking people who live in rural areas around the town northwest of Toronto to check their property for human remains or anything that looks out of place.

"There's a long weekend coming, people are going to be out and about and we really need the public to be our eyes and ears and help us locate Sonia," he said.

Officers are also are looking for anyone who may have seen the 42-year-old nurse's white Toyota Corolla near the town hall on Sunday night or Monday morning, Leon said.

Her blood-stained car was found in an alley Monday morning and police say they found a trail of blood inside and outside her home.

Misses work

Officers say forensic evidence leads them to believe she was a victim of foul play.

Ground, air and trail searches of the Orangeville area, 80 kilometres northwest of Toronto, have failed to find traces of Varaschin.

She did not show up for work Monday, and her family reported her missing.

Provincial police interviewed a potential witness who was driving a van near the town hall, but the driver was unable to provide any helpful information.

Officers say they have no suspects at this time and believe Varaschin is a victim of a random act.

Orangeville has seen domestic violence before, Leon said, but this is the first random act of violence he can recall in the quiet southwestern Ontario town.