The Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Homicide Unit is seeking the public’s help in solving a mysterious case dating back over two decades, after human remains were discovered during a demolition in Niagara Falls. The remains, identified as those of Brenda Marie LeBlanc, a woman who vanished in the mid-1990s, were found inside a vacant home on Stanley Avenue.
Brenda Marie LeBlanc, born in 1963, met a tragic end, with police now treating her death as a homicide. The Stanley Avenue property, formerly a rental residence, had been deserted for years before being demolished and was frequented by unauthorized individuals.
Unearthed during the demolition, the human remains were confirmed through forensic examination to belong to an adult female and had likely been at the property for many years. Despite years of investigation, Brenda’s identity remained a mystery until recently.
In a breakthrough in 2025, investigators utilized Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies to finally identify Brenda as the deceased individual. Originally from New Brunswick, Brenda had lived in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines in the 1990s, yet her connection to the Stanley Avenue property remains unclear.
With the case’s age posing challenges, detectives are now turning to the community for any information or memories that could shed light on Brenda’s life and her time in Niagara Falls. It is believed that individuals who knew Brenda or have details about her past could provide crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding her death.
