'Obsessed' Canadian gamer, buddy plead not guilty in California murder plot

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An “obsessed” Canadian gamer and his buddy, who allegedly plotted the murder of another gamer in California, have pleaded not guilty.

Devin Wolfgang Vandorhoef and his co-defendant, Darius Avery Whyte, both of Vancouver, are accused of travelling to Salinas in Monterey County on the state’s Central Coast in November 2024 to kill a disinterested love interest.

The pair allegedly faked a package delivery and proceeded to stab two people. One of the victims was a woman whom Vandorhoef knew through an online video game.

Detectives said Vandorhoef was “obsessed with” the female victim.

The alleged team leader, Vandorhoef, posed as the deliveryman. He was carrying a package containing handcuffs, knives and duct tape, cops said. However, investigators weren’t clear on what the accused intended to do with the implements.

When the female victim’s boyfriend opened the door, Vandorhoef allegedly began stabbing him. The beau suffered critical injuries but survived the December attack.

The female victim then jumped into the fray in her boyfriend’s defence and stabbed the attacker with a sharp metal object, police said. Vandorhoef then strangled and stabbed the woman, causing moderate injuries.

“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,” said Andres Rosas with the Monterey County Sheriff’s office.

Vandorhoef was also critically injured in the attack. Whyte was at the scene and questioned, but he claimed he did not know about what was happening, and the cops let him leave.

Investigation eventually revealed Whyte’s alleged involvement in the scheme, and he was arrested on the tarmac at the San Jose Mineta International Airport, where he planned to return to Canada. Cops have not disclosed his role in the scheme.

According to cops, Vandorhoef, 25, had developed an obsession with the woman he met through online gaming.

The pair are charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, and other charges.

In Salinas, Vandorhoef began to follow the alleged victim and learned her routine without her knowing, police said.

After the attack, several neighbours called the cops. All three people in the home had stab injuries, ranging from minor to critical.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun