A North Bay resident has been charged in connection with the murder of an area mother 40 years ago. On July 10th, 1980, 20 year old Micheline St Amour was found in a bedroom of her East Ferris home.

She died as a result of injuries caused by stab wounds.

Her two year old child was found unharmed in a nearby bedroom.

62 year old Roger Deschenes is charged with first degree murder.

Detective-Inspector Kurtis Fredericks from the OPP’s Criminal Investigation Branch says they have been in contact with the family since making the arrest.

He details their reaction.

“I think a mixture of relief and sadness. It brings up the memories of a lost loved one. The relief is that there is finally a resolution, ” he says.

He says they’re confident in their case.

“Any historic homicide probe offers challenges in the investigation and prosecution. We feel we’re in a good position. We’re confident in the charges that have laid and confident that we’ll have a successful prosecution,” Detective-Inspector Kurtis Fredericks says.

OPP say over the four decades since the case began they’ve made numerous appeals to the public for tips and as DNA technology advanced they used innovative investigation techniques to help solve the case.

An arrest was made last Wednesday.

Fredericks says this is a good day for the officers who have investigated this case over a forty year period and for the family who finally have some resolution

“There is a sense of resolution and having answers to questions they’ve had for years about the loss of their loved one.  All of the members we’ve contacted that were involved in the investigation in the past feel positively about we’re at,” he says.

The investigation continues.

(photos by station staff and submitted by OPP)

 

Filed under: Micheline St. Amour, murder