Mélissa Gélinas LJI Reporter

More than 14 years after the gruesome murder of Valérie Leblanc on August 23, 2011, the Gatineau Police Service (SPVG) announced the arrest of a suspect on September 30.

The identification of the alleged murderer in this case was made possible thanks to technological advances and the modernization of investigative techniques.

In a press release, the GPS confirmed that a count of premeditated murder was authorized by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DCPP) against Stéphane Rivard, a 51-year-old Gatineau man known to police. He appeared before a judge via videoconference on October 1.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all the staff members who worked tirelessly on this investigation over the years,” said Simon Fournier, Director of the SPVG.

Valérie Leblanc, 18, was found dead in the woods behind the Gabrielle-Roy campus of the Cégep de l’Outaouais, in the Hull sector. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers noted multiple signs of violence and burns on the victim’s body.

At the time, the coroner’s preliminary report revealed that the young woman’s death was caused by head trauma from a blunt object.

Anyone with information about this homicide is encouraged to contact the SPVG at 819-243-4636 (option 1).

Valérie Leblanc (September 30, 2025). MG Photo: Courtesy of the SPVG