Australian podiatrist Dr. Phillip Vasyli was found stabbed to death in his upscale Old Fort Bay home yesterday morning, police said. A worker discovered his body on the dining room floor around 8 a.m. but police believe he was killed on Monday night.

"He seemed to have been dead for at least seven to eight hours," said Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle on the scene.

Rolle, who heads the Central Detective Unit (CDU), said Vasyli lived in the home with his wife. She along with several workers were being questioned by police yesterday. Vasyli, 59, had multiple stab wounds to the chest, police said. His body was removed from the home just over six hours after police arrived on the scene.

The Nassau Guardian understands that police retrieved what they believe was the murder weapon. A professional was also called in to access the data on the security camera system. It's unclear whether cameras were in the room where Vasyli was stabbed.

Acting Commissioner Anthony Ferguson visited the scene but did not speak to reporters. Several Old Fort Bay residents were "concerned" by presence of the media in the posh gated community, according to Vasyli's neighbor Dr. Harold Munnings. The media were asked to leave on several occasions. Munnings said he is concerned about the "cozy" relationship police seemed to have with the media and the access given on crime scenes.

Munnings said residents were also concerned about the violent incident.

"Like most of the residents in the community, [I'm] shocked at the news," he said shortly after Vasyli's body was removed from the scene.

"It is unprecedented. We don't know what's going on. We eagerly await the results of the police investigation."

In addition to establishing several podiatry clinics in his native country, Vasyli founded an orthotic footwear company that sells products around the world.

Vasyli and his family also established the philanthropic Vasyli Foundation, which is a nonprofit group that supports a number of charities internationally. The foundation has provided financial support to several organizations in The Bahamas.

There have been 34 murders in The Bahamas for this year. Last year this same time there were 23 murders. Murders in the country have increased by 35 percent over last year.

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