Police in Edmonton are renewing efforts to identify a child who was the victim of a sexual assault almost a decade ago. The case has resurfaced as investigators work to put a name to a second young victim connected to an accused already in custody. Authorities are turning to the public for help in closing the gap in their investigation.
The case centres on an arrest made late last year. In October, police arrested 40-year-old Simon LeCoursier in connection with the assault of two young girls. That arrest set in motion the broader investigation that is now focused on identifying everyone affected.
According to investigators, one of the two victims has already been identified. The remaining challenge is to find the second girl, whose identity is still unknown to police. It is that second victim whom officers are now appealing to the public to help identify.
To aid the search, police have released a specific piece of evidence. They are sharing a picture of a shirt that was worn by the child, in the hope that someone will recognise it. The image is being used as a key clue to prompt tips from anyone who may know the child.
Investigators have also outlined a timeframe and location for the alleged offences. They believe the assaults happened sometime between 2017 and 2019 in the Edmonton area. At the time, according to police, the girl would have been between six and eight years old.
The accused, meanwhile, remains before the courts. LeCoursier is in custody, and his charges include making and distributing child sexual abuse material, as well as bestiality. The appeal to identify the second victim continues as the case proceeds.