Police say they now have DNA belonging to the man responsible for stabbing a mother of four to death in a Cabbagetown alley.

Nighisti "Nicky" Semret, a recent immigrant from Eritrea, was murdered as she made her way home from an overnight shift as a supervisor-cleaner at the Delta Chelsea hotel on Gerrard Street in the early hours of October 23.

At the time of the incident, police released surveillance camera footage showing a man walking behind Semret and reaching into his jacket pocket minutes before her death, but that man has never been identified.

Speaking with CP24 Monday, Det. Sgt. Gary Giroux said police have found DNA under Semret’s finger nails, as well as on an umbrella and canvas bag belonging to her.

Police believe the DNA, which does not match up with anyone listed in the National DNA Data Bank, belongs to the man seen stalking Semret prior to her death.

“In three different areas we have DNA, so I suspect that not only did the deceased scratch the offender but in addition to that he is bleeding and he is bleeding to the extent where blood is flowing and being cast off his hand and onto the umbrella and canvas bag,” Giroux said. "The injury I suspect would be on the hand or arm of the offender. In relation to the offender attempting to control the victim and administer stab wounds he has injured himself or as a result of the rain or blood that is flowing his hand has travelled down the length of the blade and he is bleeding as a result of the weapon he brought to the scene."

Police have not previously given a motive in Semret’s murder, but on Monday Giroux said the blood on the canvas bag points to robbery as a likely factor.

“Based on the scenario of the original attack robbery was always something I was considering but now that the blood is in the area of the opening of the canvas bag it suggests that the offender was interested in the canvas bag and interested in its contents,” he said. “The bag was opened for him to look inside and in doing so the blood was deposited onto the bag.”

Toronto police are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Semret’s death.

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