A man from British Columbia has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of violent sexual assaults that took place nearly thirty years ago in southwestern Ontario. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) revealed that the arrest was made possible through the extensive investigation known as Project Aerial, utilizing DNA technology and genetic genealogy to identify the suspect behind four assaults in Lambton County, Kent County, and Sarnia between March and August 1997.
Jason Timothy Davidson, 52, from Campbell River, B.C., was apprehended on Oct. 26 with the help of the RCMP and Vancouver Police. He was brought to Ontario the next day and is currently in custody, awaiting his court appearance in Chatham.
The police disclosed that the assaults involved four female victims, including three underage individuals at the time, who were abducted and sexually assaulted in separate incidents throughout the region in 1997. Despite extensive investigations and public appeals, the suspect remained unidentified until forensic scientists linked all four cases through DNA analysis in January 2024.
Davidson now faces a total of 15 charges, ranging from aggravated sexual assault to kidnapping and theft. Photos of the suspect from 1996 and 2025 have been released by the police, urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
OPP Detective Inspector Michael Moore acknowledged the bravery of the victims and emphasized the significance of this arrest in providing closure and justice after years of uncertainty.