Greater than 36 years after a dismembered human head was present in an Ontario river, Peterborough police say they lastly have a breakthrough.
The murder of the Otonabee River man – revealed on Wednesday to be Gerald Durocher – has mystified investigators ever because the grisly discovery was made by members of a leisure dive membership greater than three many years in the past.
It was on July 10, 1988, when the divers took to these waters in Peterborough and located a human head on the backside of the river some 130 toes from shore.
Shortly after the invention, which was made close to Lock and McKellar streets, police launched an in depth air and underwater search to find the remainder of the physique. Nonetheless, to at the present time, it was by no means discovered.
On its web site, police mentioned that via investigation on the time, they decided the top belonged to a person roughly between 40 to 74 years of age.
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“Some lower molars were missing and had been lost well prior to death. Staining on remaining teeth indicates that this man was a smoker,” police mentioned on its chilly case webpage.
“There is no evidence of dental care. He may have been bald or partially bald at the time of death. A small amount of facial hair is inconclusive about the possibility of a beard. Colouration suggests his hair and beard may have been dark coloured.”
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Investigators decided his head was dismembered, and thought of the case a murder.
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Police mentioned on the time, there have been no excellent instances of lacking males within the metropolis, which suggests the top might have been delivered to the realm from elsewhere. Police nonetheless have no idea how lengthy the top was within the river, or when the person was killed.
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On Wednesday, police recognized the sufferer as Durocher, a 38-year-old man who was born in November 1949. Investigators consider Durocher had connections all through Ontario, together with Ottawa, in addition to the Quesnel space in central British Columbia.
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Police utilized superior DNA testing expertise – a rising pattern in chilly instances – to determine Durocher. In a information launch, police mentioned on October 2021, investigators submitted proof to the Othram in The Woodlands laboratory in Texas and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
“Othram scientists used forensic-grade genome sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile, which was then used by Othram’s genealogy team, in conjunction with forensic genetic genealogy to identify potential relatives,” police mentioned.
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“The Peterborough Police Service then used this information to locate and interview these individuals. It was through this process, as well as subsequent confirmatory DNA testing by the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service that led to the positive identification of the victim.”
Now that the sufferer has been recognized, police mentioned they’re “pursuing all avenues” to additional the investigation, and are providing a $5,000 reward for any info that results in an arrest.
“Investigators are encouraging anyone with information pertaining to Durocher, or his death to come forward, noting that sometimes even the small details can play a large part in solving a case,” police added.
Anybody with info is requested to contact police at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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