FREDERIC SERRE
The 1510 West

Thirty-seven years ago, Richard Plourde abducted and raped a young female dentist before beating her to death with a shovel and dumping her body in the parking lot of a Kirkland warehouse. On Sunday, the 62-year-old escaped from Archambault prison in the Laurentians and was the subject of a nationwide manhunt. Seventeen hours later, he was back in custody after surrendering to police “not far from the facility,” according to the Sûreté du Québec.

According to the SQ, which worked with Correctional Service of Canada officials in the search for the killer, Plourde was back in custody at about 4 p.m. Monday. Neither the SQ nor Corrections officials would provide further details, other than a statement saying they would be reviewing Plourde’s status, adding that, because of his escape, he will likely be transferred to a more secure unit of the prison.

The killing of Nathalie Tétreault, a 24-year-old dentist, shocked Montrealers in 1988 as details emerged of Plourde’s brutal attack, which began when he abducted the young woman as she was leaving a dentists’ conference. Plourde, who did not know his victim, grabbed her by the neck and forced her into her car. Her battered body was found by police in Kirkland, while her car was located in Montreal North with a bloodied shovel in its trunk. Plourde was arrested within days of the attack.

Several months after his arrest, and while awaiting trial, Plourde and a fellow inmate were charged with killing a prisoner. Plourde pleaded guilty in February 1990 to both murders. He is serving two life sentences.