Title: Quebec Man Admits to 1994 Murder of 10-Year-Old Girl

MONTREAL - A Quebec man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a 10-year-old girl, bringing closure to her family more than 31 years after the crime. Réal Courtemanche, 62, who is already serving time for other offenses, admitted in court on Friday that he killed Marie-Chantale Desjardins.

Marie-Chantale disappeared on July 16, 1994, after leaving a friend's house in Ste-Thérèse, a suburb northwest of Montreal. Her body was discovered four days later in a wooded area behind a shopping center in Rosemère, a nearby community. The case remained unsolved for nearly three decades until advances in DNA technology linked Courtemanche to the crime, leading to his arrest in December 2023 while he was incarcerated.

During the court proceedings, the victim's mother, Sylvie Desjardins, expressed her grief and addressed Courtemanche directly. "I feel immense grief but also enough strength and love to speak on my slain daughter's behalf," she said. Outside the courtroom, she added, "It really brings things full circle, it closes a 31-year journey. Marie-Chantale can now rest in peace."

Both the Crown and the defense have recommended that Courtemanche receive the maximum sentence for second-degree murder, which is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Quebec Superior Court Justice Hélène Di Salvo is considering this recommendation and is expected to announce her decision on November 10.

Courtemanche has a lengthy criminal history, with dozens of convictions since 1981. In 2015, he was declared a dangerous offender and received an indeterminate sentence after being convicted of kidnapping and assaulting a woman with a knife. At that time, he had been linked to at least 12 cases involving violence or threats of violence. Judge Jacques Trudel noted that Courtemanche's criminal behavior had not changed despite age and time served.

The resolution of this cold case marks a significant moment for the Desjardins family, who have waited over three decades for justice.