A Campbell River man is facing 15 charges, including three counts of sexual assault and four counts of forcible confinement in connectionwith a series of Ontario incidents from nearly 30 years ago. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced the arrest of Jason Timothy Davidson, 52, on Oct. 29, following a three-decade investigation, dubbed Project Aerial. Three of his four alleged victims were teenagers at the time. Police arrested Davidson on Oct. 26. “For 28 years, our teams have worked extremely hard to identify the accused by re-examining evidence, following up on more than 450 tips, and reviewing countless witness statements,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns. “Advancements in DNA technology open new doors, allowing our team to apply modern investigative techniques that ultimately led to the investigation of the accused.” Kearns confirmed investigative genealogical research was used in the investigation, but declined to offer specific details or other evidence, as the case is before the courts. However, he did say it took the case to Campbell River, where the arrest was made. The four assaults took place in Ontario between March and August 1997. The first was on March 26, when a youth was abducted near Indian Road in Sarnia. She was taken by an unidentified man to Sombra in Lambton County, where she was sexually assaulted. Another youth was abducted on May 23 in Thamesville in Kent County. She was abducted while walking on Hwy 21 and taken to a wooded area. The third incident was on June 7 in Sarnia. An adult woman was picked up on Campbell Street in Sarnia and driven to another location. The fourth incident involved another youth, who was picked up on Grand Avenue West in Chatham and driven to a remote area and sexually assaulted. In each incident, the victims were able to reach safety and contact police. The three youths were 15 or 16 at the time of the attacks. OPP Detective Inspector Michael Moore said that the four cases were intially investigated separately by OPP and Sarnia Police Service. “While tips were received and thoroughly investigated, none led to the identification of the assailant,” said Moore. “However, it did not take long before investigators noticed the similarities in the attacks and the suspect descriptions. In each case, the assailant used the vehicle to transport the victims to a remote location, committed the sexual assault, and drove away, leaving the victims at the site of each attack.” Moore said the unidentified male was described as in his 30s, tall (around 5’8” or taller), with medium-length brown hair, a mustache, and a distinct nose. “Over time, DNA analysis helped link two incidents from March and June. However, investigators believe that the same unknown offender was responsible for all four sexual assaults,” said Moore. “At that point, investigations were transferred to the OPP under the direction of the Criminal Investigation Branch.” The suspect remained at large and unidentified, despite extensive investigation work and public appeals, until this year when Moore said the Centre of Forensic Sciences and advanced DNA technology connected all four cases to one individual. From there, police deployed other techniques and genetic genealogy to identify Davidson as a suspect. He faces 15 charges, including one count of kidnapping, four counts of forcible confinement, three counts of uttering threats, three counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault causing bodily harm, one count of sexual assault with a weapon, one count of aggravated sexual assault, and one count of theft. Police say Davidson has ties to the area where the offences were committed, and moved to British Columbia sometime in 2017. “We wanted to put Davidson’s name and picture out there in the media today because we’re hoping to encourage anybody who may have information that can assist this investigation to come forward,” said Moore. The OPP included two pictures in their press conference. One is from the 1990s, and one is from 2025. The one from the 90s is his photo for his Ontario Driver’s Licence, and the one in 2025 was taken after his transportation to Ontario after his arrest. “Today marks a pivotal moment in a historical investigation that has spanned years and provinces. Project Aerial began nearly three decades ago in 1997, and today, we are finally able to provide answers to the public and bring justice to the four survivors and their families,” said Kearns. Kearns said it was the courage and reports of the four survivors who initiated the investigation. He also said sexual assault remains one of the only violent crimes in Canada that is not on the decline. It is also the most underreported crime in Canada, with only six per cent of sexual assaults reported to police, compared to 36 per cent of physical assaults reported. “To the victims of historical sexual assaults, we recognize that the journey to answers can be long. Project Aerial reinforces that time does not diminish our commitment. We remain focused on delivering on answers, supporting the victims and surviviors, and upholding our dedication to public safety. “We hope this message reaches others who’ve experienced sexual assault. We encourage you to come forward to the police. You are not alone, and we are here to help,” said Kearns. “And finally, to those offenders who remain unknown and at large, often many years later, we are coming for you. I am confident that the continued advancements in DNA technology will continue to greatly assist police in solving many more historical cases.”
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