Heather Wright/The Independent

OPP are calling it a major breakthrough in a decades-long investigation into four violent sexual assaults in Lambton and Chatham-Kent.

After 28 years, the OPP has used Investigative Genetic Genealogy to arrest a BC man, who is a former southern Ontario resident, in the abductions and sexual assaults.

Between March and August 1997, four separate sexual assaults occurred where young women – three of whom were 15 and 16 – were kidnapped, taken to a remote location, sexually assaulted and then abandoned. The young women went to the police in their communities and told their stories.

OPP in Lambton and Chatham-Kent as well as the Sarnia Police all opened cases on the violent sexual assaults.

“It did not take long to realize the similarities of the assaults,” said Lead Investigator OPP Det. Insp. Michael Moore, during a news conference in London Wednesday.

Based on the women’s descriptions, the police released a description of the man who was responsible for all four assaults. Several years later two of the four assaults were later linked by DNA.

“The cases were later transferred to the OPP. Despite extensive efforts and repeated public appeals, the identity of the assailant remained unknown for many years.”

In January 2024, OPP sent DNA samples for analysis to the Centre of Forensic Sciences. Because of advances in the science, the DNA linked the four assaults to the same person. The OPP then used Investigative Genetic Genealogy to track down a man in BC.

Jason Timothy Davidson, 52, of Campbell River BC was arrested Oct. 26. Davidson, who police say lived in southern Ontario and has ties to Chatham-Kent and Lambton, is facing 15 charges including aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault with a weapon, kidnapping, forcible confinement, and uttering threats.

“I have been a police officer since 2009,” said Moore. Telling the victims of the crime, he said “is probably one of the most rewarding moments in my career, being able to let these survivors know, after 28 long years of enduring the suffering that they’ve had to go through – I can’t even begin to imagine – but being able to tell them that we got him was a very big moment.”

Moore says the women showed “the incredible courage” coming forward “and endured nearly three decades of uncertainty while waiting for answers… While we know nothing can erase the pain of these experiences, we hope that these charges bring some measure of resolution to the victims and their families.”

While an arrest has been made, Moore says the investigation continues. “We wanted to put Davidson’s name and picture out there in the media today, because we’re hoping to encourage anybody who may have information that can assist this investigation to come forward,” he said.

Reporters asked if there are potentially more victims; “We’re going to continue investigating in relation to whether or not there’s anybody else that is able to come forward and provide information, either on this case or others at this point right now, what I’m at liberty to say is that the evidence we have was supportive to be able to lay charges for the four victims we have right now – but efforts are remain ongoing.”

WHAT HAPPENED:

On Wednesday, March 26, 1997, around 9:30 pm, a young woman was abducted around Exmouth Street and Indian Road in Sarnia. She was taken by an unidentified male driving a dark blue, small- or mid-sized vehicle to a location in Sombra Township, Lambton County, where she was sexually assaulted. She reported the assault to Lambton OPP.

On Friday, May 23, 1997, just before noon, while walking along Highway 21 in Thamesville, another young woman was picked up by an unidentified male in a light blue or grey two-door vehicle. She was taken to a wooded area where she was sexually assaulted.  She reported the crime to the OPP who began investigating

On Saturday, June 7, 1997, around 2 am, an adult female was picked up by an unidentified male while walking on Campbell Street in Sarnia. The suspect, driving a red vehicle, drove the victim to a remote area nearby where she was sexually assaulted. The Sarnia police started an investigation into the incident.

On Wednesday, August 20, 1997 around 10:40 pm, a young woman was picked up along Grand Avenue West in Chatham by an unidentified male driving a blue vehicle. The female was taken to Dover Township, Kent County, where she was sexually assaulted. The OPP launched an investigation into this case.