Resolved After Seventeen Year Long Murder Investigation
Montreal Police Solve 17-Year-Old Cold Case: Catherine Daviau's Murderer Identified
After a decade and a half of uncertainty, the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) has announced the resolution of the 2008 murder of Catherine Daviau. The breakthrough in the case came through the use of genetic genealogy techniques by the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale (LSJML).
Catherine Daviau, a resident of the Rosemont neighborhood, was found dead in her apartment on 10th December 2008. Her body was naked and bound, with signs of physical and sexual violence. The assailant had set fire to the apartment to conceal traces of the crime, but a neighbour's call to 911 reporting a fire allowed firefighters to arrive at the scene.
The LSJML, which began using genetic genealogy techniques in 2021, created a genetic profile of the suspect using DNA collected from the crime scene and published it in a genealogical database at the end of 2021. Thanks to conclusive searches in genealogical databases, investigators contacted Jacques Bolduc's family.
Jacques Bolduc, a well-known criminal, was on conditional release from a sentence for two crimes at the time of Catherine Daviau's murder. He was declared a "dangerous offender" by the justice system in 2020. Despite his notoriety, no link was established between the victim and her killer.
Investigators had the DNA of the criminal, but it was not in the national genetic database. After obtaining the consent of family members, DNA samples were collected to corroborate the DNA found at the crime scene. The LSJML's Chief Executive Officer, Suzanne Marchand, stated that rigorous follow-ups and close collaboration between laboratory experts and investigators led to the resolution of the case.
The resolution of Catherine Daviau's case gives hope for the approximately 800 unsolved crimes that the SPVM currently has. Melanie Dupont, SPVM Commander, announced the resolution of the murder at a press conference. Jacques Bolduc was arrested on 10th December 2008, the same day Catherine Daviau was murdered, but he was not a suspect at the time.
A man named Serge Tremblay contacted Jacques Bolduc before his arrest to purchase the car offered by Catherine Daviau. Jacques Bolduc had responded to an ad for the sale of Catherine Daviau's car and had arranged to meet her on 10th December 2008, but he never showed up.
Catherine Daviau's family was informed by the SPVM on Wednesday morning, 17 years after the murder. The Major Crimes and Unsolved Crimes units of the Montreal Police Service never gave up in their investigation, and their perseverance has led to justice being served for Catherine Daviau and her family.
