A man from Quebec has been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of a 10-year-old girl in a northern Montreal suburb over 31 years ago, providing closure for the victim’s family. Réal Courtemanche, aged 62 and already serving time for other offenses, confessed on Friday to the murder of Marie-Chantale Desjardins based on the compelling evidence in the case.
The young girl vanished on July 16, 1994, after leaving a friend’s residence in Sainte-Thérèse, Que., located northwest of Montreal. Her body was discovered four days later in the woods behind a shopping center in the neighboring community of Rosemère. The murder of Desjardins had remained unsolved until Courtemanche was apprehended in prison in 2023, thanks to advancements in DNA analysis.
Speaking emotionally in a court in Saint-Jérôme, Que., the victim’s mother, Sylvie Desjardins, expressed her profound sorrow and strength, addressing Courtemanche directly about the devastating impact of his actions on her family. Outside the courtroom, she reflected on the closure this verdict brings after a 31-year journey, allowing Marie-Chantale to finally find peace.
Courtemanche was arrested by Quebec provincial police at La Macaza Institution in Quebec’s Laurentians region in December 2023. The prosecution and defense recommended the maximum penalty for second-degree murder – life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 25 years. The decision on sentencing will be delivered by Quebec Superior Court Justice Hélène Di Salvo on Nov. 10.
Having been labeled a dangerous offender in 2015 and receiving an indeterminate sentence for a previous crime of kidnapping and assault, Courtemanche, with numerous convictions dating back to 1981, has demonstrated a persistent pattern of violent and impulsive behavior. Despite various interventions and legal consequences, his criminal conduct has persisted, as evidenced by his extensive criminal record. The connection between Courtemanche and Desjardins’s murder had remained undisclosed until now.