Ottawa man charged with second-degree murder in femicide

Slaying was Ottawa's ninth homicide and third femicide this year to date

Published May 25, 2025 • Last updated May 26, 2025 • 1 minute read

An Ottawa man has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to a femicide of 54-year-old Rachelle Desrochers, who was reported missing last month. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

An Ottawa man has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to a femicide of 54-year-old Rachelle Desrochers, who was reported missing last month.

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Desrochers was last seen on March 14 at the McDonald’s on Elgin Street, according to an Ottawa Police Service release last month.

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On Sunday, the OPS said they have charged a man in relation to her death.

Joshua Blair, 35, was charged with second-degree murder and indignity to a dead body.

Police said he appeared in court on Sunday.

“While the remains of Rachelle Desrochers have not yet been recovered, investigators have reason to believe she was killed and that her body may be located in a local landfill, where search efforts are ongoing,” police said in a release.

Police said the murder is considered a femicide. The OPS defines a femicide as the intentional killing of women, girls, Two-Spirit, transgender women and gender non-conforming individuals because of their gender.

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These murders are overwhelmingly committed by men, police said.

“OPS names femicide as part of its commitment to ongoing efforts to improve their response to Violence against Women (VAW) and to prevent femicide and commits to ongoing collaboration with the VAW sector.

“Identifying and naming instances of femicide in Ottawa is critical to the development of more nuanced prevention initiatives and more accurate documentation of this form of violence,” the police said in an emailed statement on Sunday morning.

This is Ottawa’s 11th homicide and third femicide this year to date.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Ottawa police at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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