Ontario Provincial Police have announced that a man from British Columbia has been arrested in connection with a series of violent sexual assaults that occurred nearly three decades ago in southwestern Ontario. The arrest of 52-year-old Jason Timothy Davidson from Campbell River was made following a multi-jurisdictional investigation known as Project Aerial, in collaboration with Sarnia police.
Davidson is now facing 15 charges, including aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, forcible confinement, and uttering threats. The assaults took place between March and August 1997 in Lambton County, Kent County, and the City of Sarnia, involving four separate incidents, with three of the victims being minors at the time.
Each case had distinct details:
– On March 26, 1997, a teenage girl was abducted in Sarnia and taken to a rural area in Sombra Township for sexual assault.
– On May 23, 1997, another teenage girl was assaulted in a wooded area near Highway 21 in Thamesville.
– On June 7, 1997, an adult woman was sexually assaulted after being picked up on Campbell Street in Sarnia and taken to a remote location.
– On August 20, 1997, a young girl was abducted while walking in Chatham and assaulted in Kent County before being left at the scene.
In all cases, the suspect drove away after the assaults, abandoning the victims at the scenes. Detective Inspector Michael Moore, who oversaw Project Aerial, highlighted the similarities in the attacks and suspect descriptions, which led to a breakthrough in the investigation. Advancements in DNA technology and forensic analysis eventually linked all four assaults to the same individual.
Jason Timothy Davidson was apprehended in Campbell River with the assistance of the RCMP and Vancouver Police. He was brought back to Ontario and appeared in Chatham court, where he remains in custody. The case is considered a significant breakthrough in a long-standing investigation, providing some closure to the survivors and their families.
Davidson is scheduled for another court appearance on November 7. Police urge anyone with information on this case to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
