Investigative genealogy cracks 50-year-old cold casE
Yvonne Leroux was murdered in November 1972. 51 years later, her killer was discovered
New Forensic Technique Brings Closure to Family
Yvonne Leroux’s young life was tragically cut short in November 1972, at just 16 years old. Brutally murdered, her body left in the middle of a rural road in King Township, her killing remained unsolved for more than 50 years.
Despite the best efforts of a dozen investigators in the York Regional Police Homicide and Cold Case Units over the years; multiple appeals to the public on behalf of her shocked and grieving family; media coverage both at the time and subsequent stories as the trail went cold; and a $50,000 reward—issued twice—by the Police Service Board, her killer was never found.
Decades later, the advancement of science turned the tide in this investigation. Investigative Genetic Genealogy or IGG, identifies suspect DNA left at a crime scene, which can then be used to identify relatives of the source DNA, as a means to then identify the suspect. This development was instrumental in bringing justice, if not closure, to Yvonne’s surviving family members.
“Yvonne is far from forgotten and this has affected our family through many generations,” Leroux’s family said in a statement following the announcement of the killer’s name during a press conference on November 15, 2023, 51 years later, almost to the day.
Yvonne was last seen alive at 10 p.m. on November 29, 1972, in Toronto. The next morning a passer-by discovered her body, 24 kilometres north of where she was last seen. She had suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
“It is a testament to the dedication of our investigators that they continued their efforts, despite roadblocks and passage of time.”
deputy chief alvaro almeida
Having exhausted all traditional investigative means in this case, in 2022, investigators turned to IGG. Using suspect DNA found at the crime scene, investigators uploaded a DNA profile to public genealogical databases.
The resulting information, along with a meticulous review of public and archival records and evidence gathered through traditional police techniques, relatives of the suspect were identified, which led to the offender.
Bruce Charles Cantelon was Yvonne’s killer. The 26-year-old was living in Toronto at the time and known to police, having committed several violent offences against women. In 1974, 19 months after the murder, Cantelon committed suicide.
If he was alive today, he would be facing a charge of Murder.
“It is a testament to the dedication of our investigators that they continued their efforts, despite the investigative roadblocks and passage of time,” said Deputy Chief of Investigations Alvaro Almeida. “I like to think it’s the very real human connection our people have to victims and their families.”
Learn more about York Region cold cases on the York Regional Police website.
Yvonne Leroux was just 16 years old when she was brutally murdered and left in King Township in 1972.
Investigators found clues at the crime scene, but it was only through advances in technology that Yvonne’s killer, Bruce Cantelon, was revealed.
