As a result of advanced DNA testing technology, Peterborough police have identified a murder victim from 36 years ago who was previously known only as “The Otonabee River Man.”
Police made the announcement at a media conference at the Water street police station on Wednesday morning (December 11).
On July 10, 1988, members of a recreational dive club who were diving in the Otonabee River in Peterborough near Lock and McKellar streets made a gruesome discovery: the remains of a disembodied human head. The divers found the skull on the river bottom around 130 feet from shore.
Although the discovery was followed by an extensive air and underwater search by police, the rest of the victim’s body was never recovered. Because of evidence that the head has been dismembered from the body, police concluded the victim was murdered.
Because there were no reports of missing men in Peterborough at the time the remains were found, police suspect the head may have been brought to the area from elsewhere.
In October 2021, Peterborough police submitted evidence to Othram, an American corporation located in The Woodlands, Texas that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy to identify murder victims, in the hopes that advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could help generate new leads and assist with identifying the remains.
VIDEO: Cold Case – Peterborough Police Service – Otonabee River Man (1988)
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. Peterborough police used this information to locate and interview the potential relatives.
Along with subsequent confirmatory DNA testing by the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, this process led to the positive identification of the victim as Gerald Durocher. Born in November 1949, Durocher would have been 38 years old at the time of his death.
Police believe Durocher had connections throughout Ontario, including Ottawa, as well as the Quesnel area in central British Columbia. In the months leading up to his death, he was known to frequent the former Vendome Hotel in Ottawa.
Police 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 or the Peterborough Police Service Crime Line at 705-876-1122 ext. 555.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or stopcrimehere.ca. Peterborough-Northumberland Crime Stoppers has offered a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in this case.
