Niagara Regional Police have identified a suspect they believe to be responsible in the death of a woman in 2019.
On May 8th, 1999, police responded to reports of a partially dressed woman’s body in a roadside ditch in Lincoln. Investigation found she had been identified as 26-year-old Nadine Gurczenski of Toronto, and it was determined she was the victim of homicide.
Since 1999, no suspects have been identified, and the case remained unsolved – until now.
NRPS’s Homicide Unit has recently used advancements in DNA technology, using a method called Investigative Genetic Genealogy, to further the investigation. This, combined with other investigation techniques, has led to the suspect they believe to be responsible for Gurczenski’s murder.
Joseph Archie “Raymond” Brousseau, former of New Liskeard, Ontario, was 34-year-old at the time of this incident and has been identified as the suspect.
Brousseau died in 2017, and as a result no formal charges can be laid. Police say if alive today, he would’ve been arrested and charged with second degree murder.
Through the course of their investigation, detectives learned that Raymond Brousseau was employed as a truck driver and travelled extensively throughout Canada and the United States for work; he also had ties to Quebec.
Nadine’s husband Paul, daughter heather, son Nash and the rest of her family released the following statement in response to the recent findings.
“We want to recognize that Nadine was an incredibly important part of our family. She meant more than a news headline. She was a beautiful young woman inside and out, mother, wife, and now grandmother who had her whole life ripped away from her and everyone who loved her. She is very loved and missed every day by her whole family and we will always make sure her memory lives on forever.
Thank you to the Niagara Regional Police Services and anyone else who has helped us through the years for dedicating their time to solving her case. We are grateful for the new technologies that weren’t available years ago. You have brought our family peace and closure.”
Niagara Regional Police Deputy Chief Todd Waselovich says this investigation has brought some much-needed closure for Nadine’s family, and thanks them for their patience and cooperation.
(Written by: Matt Latour)
