Advancements in DNA technology have helped lead to the arrest of a 52-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting four females in Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent between March and August of 1997.
West Region OPP held a media conference on Wednesday to share details of Project Aerial.
Investigators said Jason Timothy Davidson was arrested in Campbell River, British Columbia on Sunday, October 26, and now faces 15 criminal charges.
"For 28 years, our teams have worked extremely hard to identify the accused by reexamining evidence, following up on more than 450 tips, and reviewing countless witness statements," said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns. "Advancements in DNA technology opened new doors, allowing our team to apply modern, investigative techniques which ultimately led to the identification of the accused."
Further details about the genetic genealogy used during the ongoing investigation could not be shared as the case is before the courts.
Kearns commended the four survivors who stepped forward.
"It was their courage and their reports that initiated this investigation," Kearns said.
OPP Det. Insp. Michael Moore said the four cases were initially not connected and were treated as separate investigations.
He said the first incident occurred on March 26, 1997. Police said a female youth was abducted near Exmouth Street and Indian Road in Sarnia. She was taken by a man who drove a dark blue, small or mid-sized vehicle to a location in Sombra Township, where she was sexually assaulted.
On May 23, 1997, a female youth was picked up while walking along Highway 21 in the town of Thamesville by a man in a light blue or grey two-door vehicle. Police said she was taken to a wooded area and sexually assaulted.
On June 7, 1997, a woman was picked up by an unidentified man, who drove a red vehicle, while walking on Campbell Street in Sarnia. Police said the victim was taken to a nearby remote area and sexually assaulted.
Investigators said the fourth incident happened on August 20, 1997. A female youth was picked up along Grand Avenue West in Chatham by an unidentified male in a blue vehicle. She was taken to Dover Township, where she was sexually assaulted.
In all four cases, the suspect drove away after the assault and left each victim at the site of the attack.
Moore said three of the victims were teenagers at the time, around the ages of 15 and 16 years old.
Following his arrest, Davidson was transferred back to Ontario on Monday, October 27, to face charges.
He has since been charged with kidnapping, four counts of forcible confinement, three counts of uttering threats, three counts of sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault with a weapon, and theft.
The accused remains in custody and was scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham on October 29.
Having been an officer since 2009, Moore said it was one of the most rewarding moments of his career to let the survivors know an arrest had been made.
"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 said.
Moore said Davidson has ties to the Sarnia-Lambton and Chatham-Kent areas, and it's believed he moved to B.C. around 2017. Details about his upbringing and profession were not shared during Wednesday's media conference.
Over the years, several police agencies were involved in the investigation, including OPP, Sarnia Police Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Vancouver Police Department, and Calgary Police Service.
The investigation by the Lambton and Essex OPP Crime Unit remains ongoing.
OPP have released past and current pictures of Davidson, and are asking anyone with information regarding the investigation to step forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
