On Friday, Sept. 18, 1981, the Edmonton Police Service responded to the report of a sexual assault in the area of Lancaster Terrace and 156 Avenue. It was reported to police that at approximately 3:30 a.m. a 36-year-old female was exiting her vehicle in a parkade when she was accosted by an unknown male and sexually assaulted. The male then reportedly took the female’s purse and fled the area.
A thorough investigation was conducted at the time; however, investigators were unable to identify or locate a suspect.
In October 2018, investigators with the EPS Historical Crimes Section re-evaluated the file against modern investigate techniques. Using current day forensic testing, a DNA profile of the suspect was developed and using the National DNA Data Bank was matched to John Edward Beausoleil, 66.
With the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police, Beausoleil, who was 27-years-old at the time of the assault, was arrested at his residence in Orillia, Ontario on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. He has since been transported back to Edmonton where he is facing charges of rape and robbery under the 1981 Criminal Code of Canada.
“Despite our best efforts, historical files can be difficult to solve,” says Staff Sergeant Ryan Tebb with the EPS Historical Crimes Section. “We are pleased that our review of this particular investigation was successful, and today’s technology was able to assist us with an arrest.”