Media Conference 1988 Cold Case Otonabee River Man
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- Опубліковано 4 лют 2025
- Advanced DNA testing technology helps Peterborough Police Service identify human remains found in Otonabee River in 1988
Peterborough, ON - Wednesday, December 11, 2024
On July 10th, 1988, recreational divers located a human skull in the Otonabee River, near Lock and McKellar Street, approximately 130 feet from the shore. When the skull was found a postmortem examination was conducted, which revealed it belonged to a male and that he was the victim of homicide. Extensive air and underwater searches were conducted; however, the remainder of the body has never been recovered.
As a result of advanced DNA testing technology, the human remains have been identified as Gerald Durocher. Durocher was born in November 1949 and at the time of his death would have been 38 years old.
In October 2021, the Peterborough Police Service submitted evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, in hopes that advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could help generate new leads and assist with identifying the ‘Otonabee River Man’.
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. 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.
This case has never been forgotten and over the last three decades various methods were used in an attempt to identify the remains.
The Peterborough Police Service is currently pursuing all avenues to continue to further this investigation. It is believed that Durocher had connections throughout the Province of Ontario, including Ottawa, as well as the Quesnel area in central British Columbia.
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.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Constable Lacey White at 705-876-1122 ext. 266, the Peterborough Police Service Crime Line at 705-876-1122 x555 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.stopcrimehere.ca
Peterborough-Northumberland Crime Stoppers has generously offered a $5000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in this case.
www.peterborou...
👏👏👏👏 .... Condolences to family & friends. R.I P.
Praying the tips fall into officers' laps.
This is diligent hard work by the detectives. Othram helped solve the murderof Carla Walker that had gone 46 years with no resolution. They are excellent!
Well done Peterborough police Services!
Remember that far back!!! 🙋♀️ 😮😮😮😮😮 Damn I'm old
Praise GOD
My Deepest condolences 💐 and prayers to his Family and Friends! And Well done to all that work on this case and stayed diligent to find the truth and to still find the truth! God Bless and all the Best to all ❤
It's time for the government to start paying this DNA company and getting more cases solved.
I can’t understand how someone can be murdered, and no one knows that someone is missing.
Not eaten by a shark of croc no??!
How did they know he was dead ?
Maybe and not get paid how often does this happen?
❤
I'm so happy for this family. Great policemanship from all involved.
Amanda Jean anderson Crystal ND spread
I don’t understand the difficulties here. You have his family, that you claim is cooperating. Did he or others close to him have any contacts with police? Having very long head hair, mustache with beard and dress is very telling in itself. Was he a smoker, do streets drugs or alcohol? Sounds like LE is holding back here.
You probably don’t understand much of anything, judging by your asinine comment.🇨🇦
@ I was in law enforcement, you weren’t. Idiot! 🇺🇸
Government cares about senate legislative Congress representatives ect. Do the get big bucks without doing anything. For true citizens zilch for citizens whole always voting for raises and perks for them
you cant even keep up with what is going on now and you thought "hey lets wastes resources on something that isnt that important"
So this person's life and murder wasn't important? Really. I'm sure, being a cold case, it will still sit in hold whilst current active cases occur. It may well be linked to ongoing criminal activity in the area.
Sounds like a comment that someone who's in fear of a knock at the door one day would say 😂
Let's see if you think the same when something like this happened to someone you love.
Until it's your brother...
I was thinking about that but that's another depth and they need reason to stay. '88 getting your head severed, man that was a really gruesome death back then.. I feel that wasnt so prevalent back then.. I might sound dumb but that was when I used to watch every news channel every day. 😅.