Summary
In May 1999, the remains of a partially clothed, unidentified woman were discovered in a roadside ditch in Lincoln, Ontario, Canada. Lincoln is a small town just west of Niagara Falls. The Niagara Regional Police Service responded to the scene and determined that the woman was a victim of homicide and was subsequently identified as 26-year-old Nadine Gurczenski of Toronto. DNA evidence was collected from the victim, but it could not be linked to any individual at that time. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the suspect, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of viable leads.
In 2020, the Niagara Regional Police Service submitted forensic evidence to Othram in the Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify a suspect. Despite previous other failed attempts to do so, Othram scientists developed a comprehensive genealogical profile for the suspect using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®. Upon completion of the process, the profile was transferred to investigators with the Toronto Police Service for the development of new leads via forensic genetic genealogy search.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the suspect. This investigation led to the positive identification of the suspect, who is now known to be Joseph Archie “Raymond” Brousseau. Brousseau, formerly of New Liskeard, Ontario, was 34 years old at the time of Nadine Gurczenski's murder in 1999. Brousseau died in 2017. Because he is deceased, no formal charges can be laid, and the matter cannot be litigated at trial. However, based on the investigation and evidence collected, if alive today, Raymond Brousseau would have been arrested and charged with second degree murder. During their investigation, detectives discovered that Raymond Brousseau worked as a truck driver and frequently traveled throughout Canada and the United States for his job; he also had connections to Quebec.
The identification of Joseph Archie “Raymond” Brousseau represents the 8th case in the Province of Ontario, where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Most recently in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Temistocle Fernandez Casas of Cuba was identified after being known as Conception Bay John Doe for 23 years.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.