A man from Quebec has been convicted of second-degree murder for the death of a 10-year-old girl over three decades ago in a suburb of northern Montreal. Réal Courtemanche, aged 62, who was already serving time for other offenses, admitted to the crime based on the compelling evidence presented in the case of Marie-Chantale Desjardins. The young girl went missing on July 16, 1994, after leaving a friend’s house in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec, and her body was discovered four days later in the woods near a shopping center in Rosemère.
Courtemanche’s arrest in 2023 while in prison led to a breakthrough in the long-standing cold case, attributed to advancements in DNA analysis. During the court proceedings in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, the victim’s mother, Sylvie Desjardins, emotionally addressed Courtemanche, expressing her deep sorrow and strength as she spoke on behalf of her deceased daughter, highlighting the impact of his actions on their family. Following the trial, Sylvie Desjardins stated that the resolution brought a sense of closure after 31 years and allowed Marie-Chantale to finally rest in peace.
Quebec provincial police apprehended Courtemanche at La Macaza Institution in the Laurentians region in December 2023. The prosecution and defense recommended the maximum penalty for second-degree murder, which is life imprisonment without parole for 25 years. Justice Hélène Di Salvo of the Quebec Superior Court will announce her decision on the sentencing on November 10.
Courtemanche, with a history of numerous convictions dating back to 1981, was designated a dangerous offender in 2015 and received an indefinite sentence following a conviction for kidnapping and assault with a knife. Despite various interventions and legal measures over the years, Courtemanche’s criminal behavior, characterized by violence and impulsivity, persisted, as noted by Quebec court Judge Jacques Trudel in his 2015 ruling. Trudel highlighted Courtemanche’s extensive criminal record, including multiple violent offenses, though his involvement in Desjardins’s murder was previously undisclosed.
