Accused in Quebec cold case murder tracked down by Y chromosome project

A Quebec prosecutor says a man charged with the sexual assault and murder of a 19 year old junior college student nearly 24 years ago was tracked down with the help of a project that matches DNA with male surnames. Prosecutor Pierre Alexandre Bernard began presenting his case Tuesday against Marc André Grenon, who is charged with the first degree murder and aggravated sexual assault of Guylaine Potvin.

Potvin was found dead in April 2000 in her apartment in Jonquière, Que., some 215 kilometres north of Quebec City. Bernard told the 14 member jury that while male DNA was discovered at the crime scene, there was no match in the police database and no witnesses to the crime. 1:57 Police have identified the suspect in a 40 year old cold case murder, thanks to investigative genetic genealogy Police have identified the suspect in a 40 year old cold case murder, thanks to investigative genetic genealogy Quebec man charged in cold case murder of 10 year old in 1994 Crime Stoppers Cold Cases: Two recent crimes Peterborough County OPP say tips still come in 50 years after disappearance of Francis Harris in Apsley York police identify alleged killer in 51 year old cold case Métis government offers $10,000 reward in 2000 cold case of eight year old Marcus McKay Previous Video Next Video Trending Now Do you know how to stay safe if you lose heat during extreme cold? Donald Trump wins Iowa caucuses in opening salvo for Republican nomination Story continues below advertisement He says the suspect was arrested more than 20 years later, after a project tracking Y chromosomes — which are passed down from father to son — first suggested the DNA might be connected to the last name Grenon.

Get the latest National news. Sent to your email, every day. Bernard says police arrested Grenon in 2022 after DNA on two drinking straws he had discarded were found to be a match with the evidence from the crime scene. Superior Court Justice François Huot is presiding over the trial at the Chicoutimi courthouse, which is expected to last five weeks.

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