DNA breakthrough helps police ID skull found in 1988 cold case

Police in Peterborough, Ont., say advances in DNA technology have led to a breakthrough in a cold case that began decades ago with the grisly discovery of a human skull in a river.

Now they're asking the public for help solving the historical homicide of a man named Gerald Durocher who was known to frequent the Ottawa area and to travel as far west as B.C.

The partially intact skull, along with several vertebrae, was discovered by recreational divers on July 10, 1988, in the Otonabee River about 40 metres from shore, according to Det.-Sgt. Josh McGrath.

Despite extensive air and underwater searches, the rest of the remains were never found and the victim's identity remained unknown for years, the detective explained.

"It's always remained a true mystery," said McGrath.

The 'Ontonabee River Man'

Then, in 2021, police started working with a Texas-based company called Othram, which bills itself online as a business that combines laboratory science and software to "break through previously impenetrable forensic DNA barriers."

Police said they managed to build a DNA profile which helped identify potential relatives of the person who at that point was known only as the "Ontonabee River Man."

Testing carried out by the Forensic Pathology Service then confirmed his identity as Durocher, who was 38 at the time of his death.

"It is an amazing step," said McGrath, adding it's only the first step in a long investigation to come.

Nearly four decades after Durocher's death, McGrath said he and other investigators are trying to piece together "who Gerald was, where he was associated to, the people that he knew, and really the circumstances that led to his death."

Many of those who knew Durocher have since died, and even some of the places he was known to frequent don't exist anymore.

That includes the Vendome Hotel that used to stand near Somerset and Rochester streets in Ottawa, described by investigators as a "common watering hole" for Durocher.

McGrath said the disappearance of such locations that could otherwise have generated leads in the case has been a hurdle.

"That's really proven difficult," he said.

Seeking closure for the family

Photos of Durocher shared by investigators show a man with long dark hair and a beard.

Police said the victim appears to have lived a somewhat nomadic lifestyle. He had contacts across Ontario and in the B.C. Interior, including around the city of Quesnel.

However his "home" at the time of his death was the Ottawa area, where his family and partner at the time also lived.

McGrath said police have theories about why Durocher moved around so much, but they're continuing to find out more about him and want to learn more from anyone who encountered him across the country.

"I want to speak to anybody that knows of him or even knows his name out in central B.C," he said. 

Investigators are also trying to determine how his skull ended up in the river, and where the rest of his remains might be.

"It is a small win," McGrath said of the positive identification. "But ... it's bittersweet, because now we have a family that we're concerned about and that we want to bring some closure to."

The detective said police in Peterborough never forgot the shocking case of the skull in the river. They're asking anyone with information about Durocher or his death — even small details — to contact them.

Peterborough-Northumberland Crime Stoppers is also offering a $5,000 reward for any tips that lead to an arrest.