The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THE lifeless body of a wealthy Australian podiatrist was discovered with a stab wound in his chest inside one of his multi-million dollar homes in the exclusive gated community of Old Fort Bay.

Police reports indicate that shortly after 8am yesterday, officers responding to calls of a homicide at a home on Ocean Drive, Old Fort Bay found 59-year-old homeowner Phillip Vasyli in the dining room.

Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle told reporters at the scene that officers believed the victim had been dead for seven to eight hours before his body was found, following an altercation the night before.

“He was discovered this morning by one of the workers so we are not certain at this stage how he came about his injuries,” said Chief Supt Rolle.

Police said the victim’s wife, Dona Vasyli, is in custody and helping with their investigation.

The Tribune has learned that police are also questioning two of the home’s service workers, a gardener and a housekeeper.

Residents in the area claimed that they heard nothing to suggest that a homicide had occurred. One neighbouring homeowner said he was only made aware of the incident after seeing police vehicles.

Police officers spent more than six hours investigating inside the luxury home.

Acting Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson was also briefly at the crime scene.

Mr Vasyli owned four podiatry clinics around the world; three in Sydney, Australia and the other located in New Providence at the Old Fort Bay Medical Centre.

In 1991, he launched his brand of footwear, Vionic with Orthaheel Technology, pioneering one of the world’s largest custom orthotic manufacturing laboratories.

The company’s website says the footwear is available in 25 countries.

The father of two also ran and managed the non-profit Vasyli Foundation aimed “gifting opportunities to young talent wanting to shine.”

Mr Vasyli and his wife have two adult children, Aron and Lauren. It is unclear how long he had lived in the Bahamas. He was fond of posting beach scenes on Twitter and was a big fan of mixed martial arts. His death is the 34th homicide for the year, according to The Tribune’s records.

Police are appealing to the public for help in this matter. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.