By Canadian Press

CP NewsAlert: Accused in Quebec cold case admits he killed teenager in 2000: Crown

Feb 14, 2024 | 8:29 AM

A Crown prosecutor says the Quebec man charged with the first-degree murder and sexual assault of 19-year-old junior college student Guylaine Potvin nearly 24 years ago has admitted to causing her death. 

Prosecutor Pierre-Alexandre Bernard made the announcement today as he began his closing arguments in the case against Marc-André Grenon. 

Grenon’s defence lawyers, who did not call any witnesses, will present closing arguments later today. 

Grenon, 49, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and sexual assault in connection with the death of Potvin, who was found in her basement apartment in April 2000 in Jonquière, Que., now a part of Saguenay, some 215 kilometres north of Quebec City.

His name surfaced in the investigation in 2022 after a DNA research project suggested someone with his last name could be connected to the murder, and he was arrested after DNA from a cup and straws he had discarded were found to match evidence from the crime scene. 

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Bernard told the jury today that the evidence at the crime scene suggests Grenon sexually assaulted Potvin in her bed as she slept and strangled her with a belt. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2024.

The Canadian Press