The EPS Historical Crimes Section charged a 65-year-old Saskatchewan man in relation to a 1981 sexual assault of a girl that occurred in Edmonton in 1981..On Oct. 13, Guy Greffard, 65, of Kelvington, Saskatchewan was arrested by the EPS and is charged with rape and acts of gross indecency as defined in the 1981 Canadian Criminal Code.On July 9, 1981, a 15-year-old girl was walking home across a school field in northeast Edmonton when she was grabbed, dragged and raped by a man..Police say the suspect then left the area on foot and was not located. The suspect was unknown to the complainant and was not identified at the time..In February 2018, the file was reassigned to a Historical Crimes Unit investigator for review. Following a thorough reinvestigation, exhibits from the file were submitted to the RCMP Lab and a DNA profile for the unknown male was created from the physical evidence.."However, no matching profile was found in the National DNA Data Bank at that time," EPS stated..In 2021, investigators pursued investigative genetic genealogy, which compared the crime scene DNA sample with profiles in commercial databases. Investigators were able to combine information about relatives of the suspect with other existing evidence to identify a now 65-year-old male..In May 2022, the RCMP Lab confirmed that legally obtained DNA from the male suspect matched the DNA on the investigation exhibits..“Our team is continuously exploring current technologies and innovative ways to solve historical files,” Det. Kevin Harrison with the EPS Historical Crimes Unit said..“We are pleased that we were able to make an arrest in this traumatic assault and are hopeful this will bring some closure for the survivor after all these years.”.“This news is indeed very encouraging, and I'm very hopeful this new investigative technology will result in charges being made in other historical sexual assault cases," Chief Executive Officer with the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton Mary Jane James said.."There are many survivors out there who may have renewed hope their unsolved case might be solved someday, too.".James said she believes there are also survivors out there who will be triggered by yet another reminder no one was held accountable for the violence they experienced at the hands of an unknown perpetrator..“We need to hold space for all survivors and let them know that, regardless of whether charges were laid, or ever will be laid, we believe them," James said.
