Historical News Article Published in the Telegraph Journal; Saint John - March 16th 2004
he RCMP has evidence that a Minto man reported missing eight years ago was the victim of homicide, says a police spokesman.
Victor Kenneth Boucher, 35, was last seen at his home on Tracy Road on May 6, 1996.
The RCMP's investigation has uncovered evidence that Boucher was the victim of foul play, said Sgt. Gary Cameron on Monday.
"Right now, we have enough to believe this was a homicide investigation," he said.
He said the Boucher file went from a missing person case to a homicide case last week. He declined to say what sparked the shift in the investigation.
Cameron did not provide much in the way of detail, saying he couldn't at this time.
"The reasons why would cause serious damage to the integrity of the investigation," he said.
Cameron did confirm that investigators suspect a specific "person or persons" in the case.
Donna Boucher, Victor's mother, said Monday's announcement brings with it the hope that an end to her family's ordeal is in sight.
She said it's worse not knowing what might have happened to a loved one.
"If we knew, maybe we could deal with it. You can't deal with the unknown," she said during a telephone interview with The Daily Gleaner.
"It's been a long haul," she said.
Donna Boucher said Victor was a polite and kind man, as well as a great son, sibling and father.
"He was a nice person," she said.
Victor enjoyed carpentry and enjoyed getting outdoors on occasion.
"He liked to fish once in awhile," she said.
Victor is survived by his mother, his father Hector, one brother and two sisters.
He also left behind two children, a boy and a girl, Donna Boucher said.
The Boucher family learned of the development in the case Monday through the media, she said.
The main reason for Monday's announcement, Cameron said, was to renew the plea for information from the public to bring the eight-year investigation to a close.
At the time of his disappearance, the five-foot-six Boucher had blond, shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, a closely trimmed beard and he walked with a slight limp.
He was believed to have been wearing a black and white sweater with leather trim, light blue jeans with a flag design above the back pocket, light coloured socks and deck shoes.
Past rumours in the community have linked his disappearance to the illegal drug trade.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the RCMP major crimes unit at 452-3494 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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