North Bay man faces murder charges in 40-year-old case

A 62-year-old North Bay man is facing murder charges in connection to the death of Micheline St. Amour of East Ferris way back in the summer of 1980. 

The OPP held a press conference this morning but with very few details.

Roger Deschenes of North Bay, a porter at the North Bay Regional Hospital, faces a first-degree murder charge. He appeared in court on November 19 and is remanded into custody until a bail hearing can be scheduled. 

Detective-Inspector Kurtis Fredericks says back on July 10, 1980, the body of 20-year-old Micheline St. Amour was found in the bedroom of her East Ferris home. 

"She had died of her injuries caused by stab wounds," said Fredericks.  

"Her two-year-old child was found unharmed in a nearby bedroom. At the time, OPP investigators had offered media releases and offered a $10,000 reward for information to try and bring a resolution to this family."

Despite appeals to the public back then, along with continued investigation efforts, the homicide went unsolved. 

Due to a publication ban with the case, Fredericks only hinted that the case started to gain momentum once again back in 2018. 

"The investigation has progressed rather quickly within the past two years," said Fredericks.  

"Information was generated to allow investigators to explore avenues of interest in this unresolved case. As this information will be before the courts, I cannot go into specific details today as to how we arrived at a point where we can announce a resolution." 

OPP Chief Superintendent Carson Pardy admits solving a 40-year-old case is not very common. 

"Many of our investigations are solved in a timely way, but some are not," stated Pardy.  

"Resolution is why we enter the criminal investigation side of this profession." 

Fredericks says the news gives some form of closure to the family. 

"I think a mixture of relief, sadness, to bring up the memories of their lost loved one, but certainly a relief that there was a resolution," said Frederick.

The criminal investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.