27 years ago today, Lucie Bouchard, a beneficiary worker with a passion for history and nature, disappeared in her purple Honda Civic in Montreal and was never seen again. Not a day goes by when his brother doesn’t wonder what happened to him, hoping to one day put a date instead of a hyphen on his tombstone.
Lucie Bouchard has not been seen since October 23, 1996, the day she abruptly dropped her sister off at the corner of two boulevards without really explaining. Archive photo, the journal
“People who are murdered or die in car accidents are very sad, but at least their loved ones can begin to grieve,” said Pierre Bouchard, his eyes watering and his voice scratched with sobs. They have a place to gather, a meaningful place. I have a gravestone with a birth year and a hyphen. It’s all I have. »
Two kilometers too early
On October 23, 1996, Lucie Bouchard was supposed to drive her sister home, but she instead forced her to get out of the vehicle two kilometers early without giving any reason. [voir ci-dessous].
That was the last time anyone saw her alive. The 30-year-old had been diagnosed with epilepsy about ten years earlier. Despite her medication, she could have a disorienting seizure two to three times a month.
Due to his illness, the case was initially taken very seriously by the police, who immediately called out a manhunt over the radio.
In the months that followed, numerous investigative steps were taken to solve this mystery.
“However, we don’t disappear like that without leaving at least a small trace,” said Detective Sergeant Jean-Yves Mailloux, head of the investigation, in an interview with Le Journal at the time.
However, only a few years later the file was classified as “inactive” and very few steps have been taken since 1998, according to the investigative file to which we had access.
Numerous hypotheses
When asked what he thinks is the most plausible hypothesis, Pierre Bouchard answers promptly.
” I don’t know. I just have questions. Was she murdered? Raped? Did she have an accident? All hypotheses are possible. »
At that time, people around Lucie Bouchard were interviewed and her diaries were examined. According to the investigation report, the hypothesis of a voluntary gesture does not appear to have been seriously considered.
As Pierre Bouchard began to come to terms with the thought of his sister’s death, a comment from an investigator in 2009 sent him into another whirlwind of emotions.
“I think she caught me complaining about trying to reopen the investigation and then she said to me, ‘Mr Bouchard, sometimes people disappear and don’t want to be found.’ »
Since then, although it seems unlikely, Pierre Bouchard can’t help but wonder if his sister hasn’t gone somewhere to start a new life.
The SPVM refused to comment on the file, but detective Andréanne Laplante assures that it is a priority and will be reviewed in the coming months by an investigator from a new department specialized in cases of this type.
Behind the scenes of the investigation
23rd October
- Lucie Bouchard spends the evening with her brother Yves in his apartment on Rue D’Hérelle in Saint-Michel, along with her sister Hélène. At the end of the evening, around 9:45 p.m., she dropped her sister off at the corner of Saint-Michel and Crémazie Est boulevards, about two kilometers from her apartment. According to her brother, she appeared disoriented and forced her sister to get out of her vehicle earlier than expected for no specific reason.
- Although Hélène Bouchard is very concerned about her sister’s behavior, she gets out of the car. She notices that Lucie is driving east on the highway when she should be driving west to return to her home in Brossard.
- Hélène returns alone to her apartment, which she shares with her brother Pierre Bouchard, a law student. He decides to call the police immediately.
In the following days :
- The research began quickly. A message is sent over the radio and police search the missing woman’s known areas.
- We call his employer and his neurologist and meet his immediate family and friends.
- We are checking the area’s hospitals, his shelters and the mortuary. We are taking possible trips with family members again.
- We check her bank account – she only has $6 in her account and no transactions have been made. She had between $10 and $15 in cash.
- We call the pharmacy where his prescription won’t be renewed. Lucie had left without her medication.
- Certain media outlets are reporting on the disappearance for the first time.
- We verify all information received – some believe we have seen them in public places such as pharmacies or restaurants.
- Checking border crossings.
- In the meantime, the family is doing their own research and traveling around the region.
November 1996:
- Helicopter searches for his purple Honda Civic.
- Psychics are consulted by family members in search of answers.
- The cavalry is deployed to Mount Royal after more credible information comes from a medium.
- For comparison purposes in the event of a body being found, the missing person’s dental file will be requested.
- His diaries are being analyzed.
November 1997:
- A new investigator is assigned to the file and takes note of it.
- The health insurance card has never been renewed or used since her disappearance.
- Check by license plate – no arrests or tickets since last year.
- Checks at animal shelters, morgues, passport offices, airport parking lots and social welfare offices.
- A search was conducted in Canada to see if an unclaimed body could match.
January 1998:
- A license plate similar to Lucie Bouchard’s would have crossed the United States-Mexico border near Otay Mesa. Checks are carried out, nothing more. This is the last known serious tip in the file.
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