Cédrika Provencher disappeared on July 31st, 2007 in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, sparking one of the longest and most intensive searches the region has seen. Unfortunately, not only Cédrika’s whereabouts haven’t been discovered yet but there are few consistent clues in this case.
She was 9 years old at the time of her vanishing. What’s known is that she was with a friend riding her bike when they were approached by a man they didn’t know who asked Cédrika’s help to look for a lost puppy. Cédrika was later seen asking around about the dog. Her bycicle was found resting against a fire hydrant around 7:45 pm that day, close to the place where she was last seen, but she was nowhere to be found.
Over the years, some leads have been followed. Recently for example, a lawyer involved in the case pointed to a man called Marc Perron as a possible suspect. This man lived in Trois-Rivières at the time of Cédrika’s disappearance and is currently under arrest for assaulting a 14 year old. But there’s no evidence so far against him and considering Cédrika’s friend said the puppy man was a stranger in the neighborhood it would be strange if it had been someone who lived close to them.
A documentary about the case is currently being filmed by Stéphan Parent, a local filmmaker who last year premiered November 84, in which he investigates a series of child murders that have happened in Quebec since 1984. Parent poises in that film that they are the work of a serial killer, despite the very different profile of the victims and their cause of death. He links those cases to Cédrika’s disappareance, so it’s expected he’ll follow that trail in this upcoming documentary.
Parent has claimed in interviews that he and his film crew have made advances in the case and found a key witness that could help to get to the truth. He said the information has been delivered to the police and they are investigating.
Update: Remains found in Friday next to a highway near Trois-Rivieres have been identified as Cedrika’s. The missing person case is now officially a murder investigation.