Monique Durocher says she often looks for her son in familiar settings. In places he liked to hang out with friends as a young man, near both her home in Temiscaming, Que., and in North Bay where he was last seen.
Monique's son is Luke Joly-Durocher, now missing 10 years. He was 20 years old when he disappeared late on March 4, 2011.
See related story: New clues come forward as police give Luke Joly Durocher update
Asked how she has been coping with the uncertainty surrounding Luke's fate in the years since his disappearance she shares with BayToday she no longer believes the saying, "Time heals all wounds."
"Emotionally, physically, it has gotten worse every day," Monique says. "It's been 10 years and it's too long."
She says there will always be a small part of her that hopes her son will walk back through the door but, realistically, the investigation has become a mission to recover Luke's remains, have a celebration of his life, and bring closure to the darkest period in all their lives.
Monique knows someone — or several people — out there know all or some of the story of Luke's whereabouts or final hours. She says she would gladly receive information directly from those people without them facing criminal repercussions if it led to finding him.
"I would definitely speak with them if they are willing to speak with me," she says. "I always have compassion for people. If it's somebody who did it — or somebody who knows something, if they want to talk to me, I will listen to them."
Parents Rob and Monique — who split up before Luke's disappearance — continue to receive the police updates on the investigation. Monique says the family is grateful for the love and support they have all received in the decade since that fateful night.
Besides the police involvement and the posters and billboards, a new resource emerged last fall that has cast the net of the investigation wider in the Shedding Light podcast. Monique says she supports the podcast, in which three friends and mothers focus several episodes per season on missing persons in Ontario as an effective way to keep the conversation about those cold cases going.
"I wish Shedding Light would have been involved years ago. They are so helpful. They are moms, they understand us, me, and Priscillia [Luke's sister], how we feel. They will do everything to help find my son," Monique says.
Susie, one of Shedding Light's co-hosts says the podcast has a devoted following of listeners and a healthy online community. This season has elicited several tips and leads and Luke's family members have taken part along the way. A new episode coinciding with the anniversary of Luke's disappearance is set to be recorded this week, with plans to release it next week.
Aligning with Monique's outlook on the investigation, the podcast's focus is not necessarily on the criminal aspect of Luke's disappearance, but rather an appeal to provide the closure the family so desperately wants and needs.
"We are putting it back out there, after 10 years, that this poor boy is still missing," says Susie. "His family just wants him. If you have information, send something anonymously," to the police, Crime Stoppers, Shedding Light. "Leave an anonymous tip just where his body is, just the location."
Monique says she hopes there are even more episodes beyond the season finale because it means the information is flowing. It's just a matter of sifting through it all.
"I hope we have another episode, and another, and another, until we find him," she says.
The hosts feel their easy-going nature compels sources to come forward with new bits of information about their subjects. Susie says the key is to get people to share their recollections of an event like Luke's disappearance because they have found it's often a matter of filling the gaps on their case flow chart with seemingly unrelated bits of information.
"We are not authoritative, we are just moms with personal experience in this area," Susie observes. "Maybe we are just more approachable," to tipsters "and nobody has to fear we will use their name on the podcast. There is no judgment. We just want to help the families find their missing loved one."
Shedding Light's debut season focused on the Melanie Ethier case before shifting to Luke's disappearance. The podcast, in partnership with the Please Bring Me Home organization, will delve into multiple cold cases in Grey–Bruce County in subsequent seasons, including the Neil McDougall case, to open season three. The hosts will spend the next year or so working on these cases.
"What seems unimportant to someone could be the piece of the puzzle that breaks the case," she adds.
Although Rob Joly was hopeful 2020 would be the year Luke was found, like Monique, he continues on with their search for their son. In a Facebook post marking the 10-year anniversary today, Rob writes:
I know there’s someone out there that knows what happened to Luke that night, I know that you want to reach out and tell us who picked up Luke at the Voyager hotel that night, but you're afraid, but don’t be afraid!
Because after all these years there’s still forgiveness in my heart for you, you're the one who can end this nightmare.
The $50,000 reward still stands.
Our family never deserved this.
So have it in your heart, and pick up the phone.
Cause all it takes is just that one call, that one call that can bring Luke home, home where he belongs.
Through it all, 10 years later, Luke's family continues to show resolve in reaching their ultimate goal.
"I find we're getting close," adds Monique, "just not quite close enough yet."
