Vancouver police have reported a significant breakthrough in a cold case involving the identification of human remains discovered in Malabar, Florida, during the 1980s. The remains have been confirmed to belong to Jeanette Marcotte, a British Columbia woman who was reported missing four decades ago. This development was facilitated by a missing-person report and a DNA sample provided by Marcotte's daughter in 2021, who last saw her mother in the early 1980s while they were in Saskatchewan.
The American DNA firm Othram, known for its work on cold cases, announced that the remains found in Florida were identified through advanced genetic genealogy techniques. This process involves tracking familial links to previously unidentified DNA. Following the daughter's report and DNA submission, Florida investigators sought a match, ultimately leading to the confirmation that the remains belonged to Marcotte.
Vancouver Police spokesman Darren Wong confirmed that the Florida authorities had reached out regarding the possible identification. After receiving consent from Marcotte's daughter, her DNA profile was sent to Florida investigators late in 2022. The identification process allowed the authorities to close the case and inform the daughter of the outcome. However, Wong did not disclose the daughter’s name due to privacy concerns.
As part of the investigation, Tod Goodyear, a public information officer with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, revealed that Marcotte's remains were found alongside those of another woman, Kimberly Walker. Walker had been identified through dental records. The causes of death for both women are undetermined, but there are theories suggesting that they may have fallen victim to a suspected serial killer, John Crutchley, who was active in the area during the 1980s.
Crutchley, often referred to as the "vampire rapist," had a criminal history involving kidnapping and rape but was never convicted of homicide. Despite his past convictions, investigators suspect that he may have been involved in multiple homicides, as he was reportedly found in possession of identification belonging to several missing persons, including Walker. Reports from Florida Today indicate that Walker's driver's license was discovered in Crutchley's desk, along with IDs of five other deceased women.
This case sheds light on the tragic circumstances surrounding the disappearances of women during that era and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to resolve cold cases using modern forensic technology. The identification of Jeanette Marcotte's remains closes a painful chapter for her family, who endured decades of uncertainty regarding her fate. The case underscores the importance of familial DNA in cold case investigations and offers a renewed hope for other families seeking closure.
