Hi All,
I’m expecting a little more traffic after the W-FIVE thingy, so let me explain the landscape, and how things work here…
This is my blog (weblog or journal). It concerns all things in my sphere. Sometimes I write about developments in Theresa’s case, sometimes I write about general justice issues, sometimes I share personal stuff about Theresa. At times it can get downright stupid (the inventory of Quebec bottle caps?), at times I veer off track… ALWAYS it somehow rebounds back to the memory of my big sister Theresa.
And that’s never sad or depressing, so don’t take it that way – it always leaves me feeling intensely whole and alive.
Now, I haven’t seen the W-FIVE show, but I was involved in the making of it, so I’m anticipating some questions.
Here I give you my top 10 things that may have gone unanswered on W-FIVE:
1. So where’s the investigation at now?
You’ll have to ask the police, I don’t know. When they recently told an IVAC lawyer that there was evidence Theresa was at a “drug party” the night before she died (see previous letter to IVAC post), the case took an immediate backslide back to 1979, and I have since broken off communications.
Not that things were going well prior to this. In the two years since the Surete du Quebec decided to re-open the investigation things have progressively gotten worse. We have been through three investigators. Each time they switch, more time is lost as we take up to two months to bring the new guy up to speed. Each new investigator is a little less engaged to the prior one.
It is very frustrating.
All of the Investigators have been good, dedicated people; it’s just that as time passes, this case becomes less and less a priority for SQ heads. So now I have a guy who would like to investigate:
- John, your sister’s file is on my desk every morning when I come into work .
- Yes, on the desk collecting dust.
but said investigator keeps getting pulled away to devote time to other cases.
Now this would be fine with me if Theresa’s case was stone cold. But it’s not; Theresa’s death has never been investigated as a murder. It’s red hot; there are many leads to follow-up on, at least three suspects that need to be rigorously pursued (before they die). I think after 26-years of screw-ups my family is owed – at least – full dedication to this matter.
It is pretty well an established fact that what victims want most is information. Particularly in unsolved cases. We want to be updated (even if that update is “we have nothing new to report”). Not saying anything further alienates victims.
Well last month I contacted my investigator. I said,
- Benoit, I’m tired…I’m tired of always having to be the one that calls you and asks for updates. It’s wearing me out. Don’t you know how much energy I have to come up with to put myself in the frame of mind to even contact you? So Benoit, here’s what I want: once a month – no matter if the case has not progressed – I want you to call me with an update…
- For how long?
- As long as this goes on.
- But you can call me any time, I always return your calls.
- Benoit, don’t you understand that it takes too much energy?
- I will need to check with my supervisor.
He never got back to me... and that’s the last I heard from the SQ.
And my problem is not unique. I know every victims family of an unsolved case knows exactly what I’m talking about.
Bottom line: SQ give your officers resources and time. Fund a Cold Case Bureau. Solve this crime.
2. What exactly is your beef with Champlain College?
Well there are so many, but let’s focus on one. Here is a letter I sent to the Surete du Quebec over two years ago concerning Champlain College:
October 16, 2002
Sergent Michel Tanguay (6094)
Surete du Quebec
Service des enquetes sur les crimes contre la personne
1701 Parthenais
Montreal, Quebec
H2K 3S7
Re: Obstruction of Justice / Champlain College
Sergeant Tanguay:
This letter is in reference to the conduct of Champlain Regional College during the missing persons investigation conducted by the Lennoxville Police department when my sister, Theresa Allore, disappeared on November 3rd, 1978; and their conduct during the criminal investigation conducted by the Surete du Quebec after Theresa’s body was found on April 13th, 1979.
At the time of her disappearance, my sister lived at King’s Hall, Compton. The King’s Hall facility was supervised by Stewart Peacock, the Director of Residence. Mr. Peacock was assisted by Jeanne Eddisford, Assistant Director of Residence. These were the only two Champlain employees supervising the 240 students at Compton.
Mr. Peacock’s supervisor was the Director of Student Services, Gerry Cutting.. Gerry Cutting was, in turn, supervised by the Campus Director, Bill Matson. All of this is documented in the enclosed materials.
The week before my sister disappeared, Stewart Peacock was criticized by students for absences from campus and for not fulfilling his administrative responsibilities. After Theresa disappeared, my parents came to the Townships. They stayed there for approximately a week in November, and returned for the entire month of December. In all there interaction with the College they only dealt with Bill Matson, Gerry Cutting, and Jeanne Eddisford – mostly Jeanne Eddisford. I have checked all of my Father’s notes from this time (they are extensive, spanning an entire year, from November 1978 through November 1979). The names Matson, Cutting and Eddisford are mentioned many times, the name Peacock is not mentioned once. Indeed, to this day, my parents maintain that they never met Stewart Peacock. They never even heard his name mentioned, until I found a witness make reference to him in a statement given to the police in April of 1979. Nevertheless, in official documents, Peacock is listed as the Director of Residence.
Recently, I had the occasion to speak with Louis Hamel, the original investigator for the Lennoxville Police. Hamel did not recall anyone named Peacock. He maintained that Matson and Eddisford were in charge. Mr. Hamel also kept his notes from 1978. There is no mention of Stewart Peacock.
In January of 1979, at the beginning of the second semester of school, while my sister was still a missing person, the school announced that Stewart Peacock had suddenly taken a leave of absence and had left for Vancouver. Jeanne Eddisford was made Acting Director of Residence, and curiously, the second floor of King’s Hall – where Peacock had lived, and where my sister was last seen to be heading – was closed. All students that were living there were resettled on the ground floor, or in the other residence on campus, Gillard house.
After April 13th, 1979, when the body was found, the case was turned over to the Surete du Quebec. The Surete interviewed Jeanne Eddisford who identified herself as the Director of Residence at the time of my sister’s disappearance.
Although I have not seen all of my sister’s SQ file, I am willing to guess that the name Stewart Peacock is never mentioned in the criminal investigation surrounding her death. He is not mentioned because none of the School Administrators – not Matson, Cutting, or Eddisford – disclosed to investigators that the person left in charge of the facility where the victim lived, the person whose room was located in the direction where the victim was last seen to be heading, had suddenly fled in the middle of a missing persons investigation and gone all the way across the country.
I believe this constitutes a crime on the part of Champlain college. Champlain college, and it’s administrators at that time, Bill Matson, Gerry Cutting and Jeanne Eddisford should be investigated on the charge of obstruction of justice for failing to disclose to criminal investigators information concerning who was truly in charge at King’s Hall, Compton.
What would motivate the School to hide the identity of Stewart Peacock? That is simple; if Peacock were a suspect (and I think at this time that is a possibility) this would damage the School’s reputation. If, however, Peacock were merely incompetent; this too would hurt the School, if a school supervisor were not capable of protecting the students in his charge. There may be an additional reason. When Gerry Peacock became Director of Student Services, Matson was not yet Campus Director, and the position of Director of Residence was vacant: in all probability, Gerry Cutting hired Stewart Peacock.
On March 15th, 2002, I met with Gerry Cutting, who is currently the Director General of Champlain College. Mr. Cutting related to me that Stewart Peacock was, “an inept former high school headmaster”, who was totally incapable of doing his job. When I later asked Cutting for clarification on Peacock’s job title, he lied and said he was the Director of Records, but when prodded, admitted he actually had been the Director of Residence.
On April 2nd, 2002, I had a telephone conversation with Jeanne Eddisford. She confirmed that Peacock was then the Director of Residence, and that he was absent from campus in the evenings on several occasions. She further stated that both Cutting and Matson were her supervisors, she did not answer to Peacock.
1. I urge you to contact Champlain College, and attempt to track down Stewart Peacock. He is a possible suspect in the death of my sister. At the least, he may be a witness to events surrounding her disappearance, and he needs to be interviewed by authorities.
2. Champlain’s actions in attempting to hide all knowledge of Stewart Peacock back in 1978-1979 may constitute a crime, especially in light of their recent, official declaration that the School fully cooperated with authorities during the initial investigation. I urge you to investigate the School on the charge that they obstructed the criminal investigation of the death of my sister.
Gerry Cutting is the current Director General of Champlain College. He can be reached at (819) 564-3600 ext. 638.
Jeanne Eddisford currently works as a psychiatrist in Montreal. Her office is located at the corner of Sherbrooke street and Greene Ave. She can be reached at (514) 953-4357.
Bill Matson died in the 1990s.
One final thought. On September 25, 2002 I wrote to the current Board of Directors of Champlain and its entire faculty and administration. I disclosed to them the matter of Stewart Peacock. On September 27, Leo Davis, Chairman of the Board of Champlain acknowledged receipt of my correspondence on behalf of the College, and again reiterated that the school would only cooperate with an official, police investigation. Because the entire college now has knowledge of Stewart Peacock, and has failed to come forward with this knowledge to the authorities, the entire Board, Faculty, and Administration is currently responsible for obstructing any investigation into the death of my sister.
I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to discussing it further when we meet in November.
Sincerely,
John Allore
- Encl.
The SQ never followed up with me. They thought my claim was frivolous.
3. Is a serial killer on the loose in the Eastern Townships?
When W-FIVE asked me if this was the work of a serial killer my response was something like this:
"It is possible that Theresa’s death was the work of an offender killing in a series… it is also possible that three different offenders killed Allore, Dube and Camirand, and equally frightening scenario given that all three of these cases remain unsolved."
I doubt they aired the second half of that statement.
Look, Kim Rossmo never said this was evidence of serial killings; what he said was there was enough evidence to warrant the investigation of all three case files together; something the Quebec police have never done. Here is Rossmo’s summary sent to Patricia Pearson back in 2002:
Patricia,
Here is a slightly modified version of my analysis, based on our telephone discussion today. I have also included a couple of paragraphs on crime linkage, to do with as you wish.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Kim
"Each of these incidents involve multiple locations that, when combined, form a persuasive pattern. Camirand disappeared in Sherbrooke, close to where Dube went missing. She was later found in Magog, nearby what may have been Allore’s clothes. Dube, in turn, was found a few miles from Allore’s body outside Compton, just off a route linking Compton to Magog. Allore’s wallet was found just south of the area where both Camirand and Dube disappeared, very near an attack on a fourth woman.
The locations associated with these deaths are intertwined, woven together in the landscape south of Sherbrooke, Québec. Three murders in a 19-month period, in such a tight geographic cluster, is highly suspicious. All were young, low risk women. They were most probably attacked on the street, transported, and their bodies then dumped at a different location. The similarities are not likely the result of chance. These cases should be fed into ViCLAS (Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System), and reexamined as a group of potentially linked sex murders. Serial murderers typically live closer to the victim encounter sites than body disposal locations. This offender was most likely based in Lennoxville or South Sherbrooke during the period from 1977 to 1978.
Linking the crimes of a serial offender is not a straightforward task. Few killers are as obliging as Dr. Hannibal Lecter who placed a Black Witch Moth chrysalis in his victims’ throats. Crimes are linked through some combination of: (1) physical evidence (e.g., DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, etc.); (2) offender description (from a victim, witness, or camera); and (3) crime scene behaviour. In a murder without witnesses and decaying physical evidence, crime scene behaviour may be the only option. But to the degree that the scene is old or destroyed, important information regarding what exactly happened may be lost. Even at the best of times, crime scene comparisons are always probabilistic; in other words, we can only talk about the likelihood that two crimes are connected.
Linking crimes behaviourally requires comparing similarities versus differences for both related and unrelated crimes. Like crimes should show more similarities than differences, and unlike crimes, more differences than similarities. These comparisons are usually assessed in terms of proximity in time and space between offences, comparable modus operandi (the method of operation, or how the criminal found and attacked the victim, committed the crime, and escaped from the scene), and the presence of “signature” (fantasy-based rituals that go beyond what is necessary to commit the crime)."
So, you may ask, why hasn’t the police conducted a complete and thorough (complete with ViCLAS) investigation of these cases? It is my conclusion that the answer is, because they don’t understand what we were talking about.
When Dr. Rossmo made this determination, the SQ didn’t even have a behavioral science unit. Indeed, the SQ’s first profiler is still in training. How do I know? Because he was the first investigator assigned to Theresa’s case, but he was pulled off the case to study behavioral science under the tutelage of many experts including… Dr. Kim Rossmo.
As I have said before in earlier posts, I strongly suspect that the Surete du Quebec does not currently have the expertise to understand the criminology tools of behavioral science. As a result, the Surete du Quebec is playing “catch-up” with the rest of the world. They are way behind experts like the Behavioral Science unit of the OPP based in Orillia and need to invest considerable resources in initiating a “Cold case” unit.
4. Why did your parents consent to an interview after 26-years?
Bless their hearts. When they had put all this behind them and begun enjoying retirement, they took one more look at the blackest moment in their lives.
I think they did it for us (my brother and I). They knew this was important to us, and if they could help, then they would do so. My parents are very private people (so is my brother); they don’t enjoy this stuff at all. I think they did it less for Theresa and more for me. I don’t know, it’s very personal and it confuses me a bit. Best to say, I thank them for being courageous and inviting Sandi Rinaldo into their home.
5. Why don’t you right a book about all this?
I did. Three hundred pages baby! But publishers were too busy arguing about the ending (“we need to have someone caught”) and where its placement should be on the display table (was it True Crime or Memoir) to notice that “no” ending to this mess was the ending.
So I gave that up. I'm currently working on my Masters in Justice Administration at North Carolina State University.
6. What’s the latest news on the Deborah Key investigation?
In late January the judge threw out the murder confession of Andrew Dalzell. Dalzell was released on bale (he still has some internet porn charges pending) and is back in the community. The DA is still waiting on the verdict in the appeal, but don’t hold your breath, Andrew Dalzell is most likely a free man. Two weeks ago, after being missing for 7 years and no body recovered, an Orange County judge declared Deborah legally dead. The ruling was requested by the family so that they could attend to some property issues and put things behind them. Last weekend I ran into Detective John Lau at the local community center. We were both taking our children swimming. Lau said that the police were still pursuing some other options on Dalzell. Yes, yes… I sometimes take cheap shots at law enforcement, but I know how hard the Carrboro police worked, what a disappointment this has been, and how deeply committed they have been to the Debbie Key investigation.
My connection to all this is documented in Bad Dream House. The name, Bad Dream House was a sophmoric reference to The Simpsons (in an early Treehouse of Horror episode, the Simpsons (a la Amityville Horror) move into a haunted house). What can I say? Theresa loved Halloween and she would have loved The Simpsons.
7. Who is Pierre Hugues Boisvenu and why do you refer to him so much?
Actually the question W-FIVE asked was,
“why have you been doing this…what have you achieved?”
When I answered,
“Pierre Boisvenu and AFPAD”,
they didn’t like that answer so I had to do another take where I said,
“I’m doing it for my sister, or something equally teary-eyed”.
Pierre Boisvenu is a father. His (26?) year old daughter, Julie was murdered by Hugo Bernier. Bernier was recently convicted and sentenced to 25-years in prison. Shortly after the trial ended Pierre started l’Association des Familles de Personnes Assassinées ou Disparues du Québec, (AFPAD). AFPAD currently has the momentum – it is the victims organization with the most potential in Canada (a close second is Manitoba’s MOVA). Pierre is my mentor and my friend. I have never seen anyone tackle the very difficult task of victim advocacy with such grace and composure. If you are a Quebec victim of crime and need assistance, start with Pierre and AFPAD. They will not let you down.
FYI: On March 20th at 6:30 p.m. CFCF's On Assignment will air a special broadcast on Montreal television called Victims No More, about AFPAD.
8. Tell us something about Theresa.
Funny. A total goofball. She lit up the room (they all do). You just wanted so much to be around her, she had so much energy. Theresa was my family’s leader. She was our compass. At a time when “cool” wasn’t mummified in irony, I never met anyone as cool as Theresa.
9. Any Regrets?
Of course. I question myself every day. How far should I push? Should I sound-off or be respectful? Is this about me or her? Am I venturing into the realm of spectacle?
That’s the nature of the beast. But everyday I ask her, do you want me to stop? So far, I haven’t heard her say “no”.
10. Anything else?
Yes. If you have any information about the disappearance and death of Theresa Allore on the night of Friday November 3, 1978 in Lennoxville, Quebec... please contact me at johnallore (at) earthlink (dot) net.
