Authorities believe that Marc-André Grenon, already accused of having sexually assaulted and then killed Guylaine Potvin 22 years ago in Saguenay and raped another young woman in Quebec the same year, could have made other “minor or adult” victims. “. A serial crime investigation unit has been deployed.
Posted at 7:43 a.m.
Updated at 8:22 a.m.
This was announced Friday morning by the Sûreté du Québec in a press release, confirming in particular that “the investigation tends to show that the suspect could have caused other minor or adult victims”.
47-year-old Marc-André Grenon, from Granby, appeared Thursday at the Quebec and Chicoutimi courthouses from an SQ post in Saint-Hyacinthe, where he is being held.
He was originally arrested on Wednesday for crimes dating back 22 years. The police suspect him of having killed and sexually assaulted Guylaine Potvin, a 19-year-old student found dead in her Jonquière apartment on April 28, 2000. At the time, Ms.me Potvin lived with two girlfriends, also students, who were absent the night of the events.
Grenon is also suspected of having sexually assaulted and then strangled another young victim, whose identity is protected by the court, in July 2000 in Sainte-Foy. The latter, who was “left for dead” in the words of the police, survived the attempted murder and managed to call 911.
A unified investigation unit
Since “several victims have been identified”, the SQ announced on Friday the implementation of its serial crime investigation management structure (GECS). “When you have several victims identified with the same suspect, this structure makes it possible to unite several Quebec police services that work together to quickly identify crimes committed by predators,” explained Constable Béatrice Dorsainville, police officer. word of the SQ.
The GECS will thus allow a “pooling of police resources” and more efficiency on the ground, continued Mr.me Dorsainville.
Moreover, the police force published on Friday four photos of Marc-André Grenon at different times of his life, between 1994 and 2019. The investigators thus wish to call on any victim who recognizes him to come forward to the police as soon as possible.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE SQ
The SQ published four photos of Marc-André Grenon on Friday at different times in his life, between 1994 and 2019.
“We are talking about an investigation that has remained active for more than 20 years. You are able to make a very quick calculation: we are talking about a voluminous disclosure of evidence, “said Crown prosecutor M.e Pierre-Alexandre Bernard, during Grenon’s appearance in Quebec.
The prosecutor did not want to say more about this evidence which made it possible to arrest the suspect after two decades. But as part of a television program in 2016, a spokesperson for the SQ had indicated: “The DNA found in April in Jonquière and in July in Sainte-Foy is the same. So, we are faced with a single murderer in this case. »
Marc-André Grenon had also stolen several objects from his two victims, including jewelry. The police had, over the years, revealed to the public several information on this subject, in the hope of pinching the murderer, if he had tried to sell them, for example.
His arrest caused shock waves throughout Quebec, but first and foremost in Guylaine Potvin’s family. “It’s a great relief for us, for the whole family. We never despaired that the investigators would eventually find the person who harmed Guylaine, “said his mother, Jeannine Caouette, in an interview with the Daily Wednesday.
Anyone who has relevant information related to the accused or his actions can contact the Criminal Information Center of the Sûreté du Québec at any time, by dialing 1 800-659-4264. You can be assured of confidential treatment.
With Gabriel Béland and Vincent Larin