A man from British Columbia has been arrested and charged with a series of violent sexual assaults in southwestern Ontario that occurred nearly 30 years ago, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
The arrest was made as part of Project Aerial, a cross-jurisdictional investigation utilizing DNA technology and genetic genealogy to identify a suspect linked to 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 subsequently brought to Ontario and is currently in custody awaiting a court appearance in Chatham.
The assaults, which targeted four female victims, three of whom were youths at the time, involved abductions and sexual violence in different locations across the region in 1997. Despite extensive efforts, the identity of the perpetrator remained unknown until recent forensic advancements.
Following DNA analysis linking the crimes to a single individual in January 2024, investigators applied genetic genealogy techniques to narrow down the suspect pool, leading to the arrest of Davidson.
Facing a total of 15 charges, including aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, and theft, Davidson’s arrest represents a significant breakthrough in a long-standing case that has haunted the victims and their families for decades.
OPP Detective Inspector Michael Moore commended the courage of the victims and highlighted the importance of advancements in DNA technology and investigative genetic genealogy in solving cold cases like this one.