Gatineau's unsolved cold cases persist despite high clearance rate

Tashi Farmilo

In Gatineau, a city known for its high clearance rate for homicides, three cold cases remain unsolved, casting a shadow over an otherwise commendable investigative record. Over the past two decades, from January 1, 2004, to September 2024, Gatineau has seen 55 homicides, with a remarkable 95% of them solved. However, the murders of Valérie Leblanc, Kelly Morrisseau, and Gaston Lavoie continue to baffle authorities, leaving families without closure.

Valérie Leblanc, an 18-year-old student, was brutally murdered on August 23, 2011. Her body was discovered in a wooded area behind the Gabrielle-Roy campus of Cégep de l'Outaouais in Hull. Investigators found that she had suffered severe head trauma from a blunt object, and her body showed signs of extreme violence, including burns. Despite extensive investigations and a widely circulated composite sketch of a key witness, described as a white male, aged 20 to 35, with a stocky build, the case has not been solved. Thirteen years after her death, the Gatineau Police remain determined to find her killer. They continue to appeal to the public for information or any tip that could lead to an arrest.

Another tragic case is that of Kelly Morrisseau, a pregnant 27-year-old mother of three. On December 10, 2006, she was found in the early morning hours, severely wounded, in the parking lot of Gatineau Park. Morrisseau, who was last seen alive just hours earlier, had been stabbed multiple times. Despite her efforts to fight off her attacker, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being found. A composite sketch of the suspect, described as a man seen with Morrisseau before the attack, was released to the public. In 2021, 15 years after the murder, police renewed their call for information, backed by a record $50,000 reward provided by the non-profit organization Jeunesse au Soleil. Yet, despite these efforts, Morrisseau's killer has not been identified.

The case of Gaston Lavoie dates back to December 2004, when the 62-year-old man’s body was discovered in a dumpster in Gatineau’s St-René industrial park. Lavoie, who was known for his involvement in cigarette smuggling, had been missing for days before his decomposed body was found. His car was located shortly afterward, but investigators have been unable to piece together the final moments of his life. Nearly two decades later, the case remains cold, with no significant leads.

While the Gatineau Police maintain a high success rate in solving homicides, these three cases remain exceptions. The families of Valérie Leblanc, Kelly Morrisseau, and Gaston Lavoie continue to seek answers, hoping that renewed public interest or a forgotten detail might finally lead to justice.

Anyone with information regarding the unsolved murders is urged to contact the Gatineau Police. Tips can be submitted confidentially by calling 819-243-4636, option 1, or 819-243-2346, extension 6677.