Online 'obsession' prompts suspects to fly to California and leads to stabbing attack: investigators
Two Canadian men, Devin Wolfgang Vandorhoef (left) and Darius Avery Whyte have been arrested, following a stabbing attack in Monterey County on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2025.
SALINAS, Calif. - Two men suspected in a stabbing attack in Monterey County traveled from Canada after one of the suspects "developed a year’s long obsession" with a woman he met on a gaming platform, sheriff’s officials said.
The suspects, Devin Wolfgang Vandorhoef and Darius Avery Whyte, both 25, were arrested following the attack which happened on Nov. 25 in the 300 block of Bollenbacher Drive in the Bolsa Knolls neighborhood of Salinas.
Sheriff’s detectives said that both men are from Canada and flew to California after Vandorhoef got to know the female victim online.
"The female victim and suspect Vandorhoef met via an online gaming platform and had communicated via that platform for several years," Sheriff Commander Andres Rosas told KTVU in an email.
Vandorhoef showed up at a home where the woman was. He had a package in-hand and identified himself as a delivery driver, according to officials.
"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," investigators said.
The girlfriend grabbed a sharp metal object to defend her boyfriend, and Vandorhoef then started attacking her, according to sheriff’s officials.
"While fighting back, the female victim was strangled and stabbed by our suspect sustaining moderate injuries. During the struggle, the suspect sustained multiple critical stab wounds," detectives said.
The sheriff’s office received multiple 911 calls related to the attack. Deputies arrived on scene to find three people with stab wounds.
All three went to the hospital with minor to critical injuries. They're all expected to survive, officials said.
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Inside the package Vandorhoef had in his possession, investigators said they found handcuffs, duct tape, and knives.
Detectives also said that they initially contacted Whyte near the crime scene after the attack, but he told investigators that he had no knowledge of the incident and was not detained at the time.
Officials said their investigation later determined that Whyte was an accomplice in the case. The following day, detectives located and arrested him at San Jose Mineta International Airport as he sat on a flight preparing to return to Canada.
Vandorhoef is being held on $4.150 million bail. Whyte's bail has been set at $1 million.
Both men face felony charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Vandorhoef has been charged with additional felonies including stalking and burglary.