Man arrested 10 years after Longueuil bike path murder

A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a decade-old murder case, Longueuil police (SPAL) announced Wednesday.

Michael Mcduff-Jalbert, who was 26 years old at the time of the crime, was arrested Tuesday.

He appeared at the Longueuil courthouse on Wednesday and was charged with first-degree murder.

The arrest comes after the body of 23-year-old Jenique Dalcourt was found on a dimly lit bike path near Chambly Road and Normandie Street in Vieux-Longueuil on Oct. 21, 2014.

She was walking home from work.

"Jenique was only 23 years old; a bright, beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her," said John Gandolfo, the victim's father, at the courthouse. "Nothing will bring back Jenique but this will give our family some degree of closure."

At the time, police had arrested Mcduff-Jalbert as a suspect, but the Crown declined to press charges, saying the evidence wasn't strong enough for a conviction.

"Our first thoughts go out to Jenique's family," said Chief Inspector Pierre Duquette at a press conference on Wednesday. "I want to thank them for having faith in us all this time. Finding a resolution in this dossier was a top priority for us."

Duquette says new forensic evidence as part of "collosal work" by the force led to the arrest.

"Specific methods in the field of forensic science made it possible for (Longueuil police) to make progress in the investigation and gather additional elements," he said, adding that new information allowed the prosecutor's office to lay charges against the suspect.

Longueuil police confirmed that Mcduff-Jalbert was the only person arrested in relation to the case.

According to lawyer Julie Vincent, he is expected to remain detained until further proceedings.