Niagara Regional Police have confirmed that human remains uncovered during a 2023 demolition in Niagara Falls belong to Brenda Marie LeBlanc, a woman who disappeared in the 1990s. The identification, announced on Aug. 12, 2026, was made using genetic genealogy and followed a prolonged forensic investigation by the force’s Homicide Unit.
Long-buried questions for a community
LeBlanc, born in 1963 and originally from New Brunswick, lived in both Niagara Falls and St. Catharines during the 1990s, according to the police statement. The remains were recovered from a vacant property on Stanley Avenue during demolition in November 2023. Police say the residence had been a multi-unit rental from the late 1970s until about 2018 and had been frequently unlawfully entered by unhoused people since it sat vacant.
Investigators have not yet established how LeBlanc came to be on the property or what her connection was to it. Forensic and anthropological examinations suggested the remains had likely been at the site for many years, potentially dating back to the mid-1990s, the police release said.
“Based on the investigation to date and the forensic examination of the remains, the NRPS is investigating Brenda’s death as a homicide.”
The homicide designation marks a shift from an unidentified remains file to an active criminal investigation. Niagara Regional Police are continuing work to piece together the circumstances surrounding LeBlanc’s death, and are appealing to anyone who knew her or has information about her activities or whereabouts during that period to contact investigators.
What investigators have disclosed
- Identification method: Genetic genealogy (completed in 2025).
- Discovery: Remains recovered in November 2023 during demolition of a Stanley Avenue property in Niagara Falls.
- Property history: Multi-unit rental residence from late 1970s to ~2018; vacant and frequently unlawfully entered since 2018.
- Current status: NRPS Homicide Unit investigating; police seeking public assistance.
The police statement noted the property owners have been cooperative with investigators. Beyond that, officials have not released further identifying details about potential suspects or a timeline that would explain how and when LeBlanc died.
Local impact and next steps
The identification provides a measure of closure about the person’s identity but raises new questions for families and neighbours in that part of Niagara Falls. The neighbourhood’s history of vacant buildings and unlawful entries since 2018 is now part of an active homicide probe, highlighting the longer-term consequences of property vacancy and the risks that can accompany derelict sites.
Anyone with information about Brenda LeBlanc, her movements in the 1990s, or the Stanley Avenue property is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service. Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Investigators emphasise that even seemingly small details about acquaintances, rental history or people seen around the property decades ago could be helpful.
| Key dates | Details |
|---|---|
| Mid-1990s | Period during which remains may have been at the property, per forensic analysis |
| 2018 | Property reportedly ceased regular rental use and began experiencing unlawful entries |
| Nov. 2023 | Remains discovered during demolition |
| 2025 | Identification completed via genetic genealogy |
| Aug. 12, 2026 | NRPS publicly announced identification and homicide investigation |
The case remains active. As the Homicide Unit continues its enquiries, police say they will provide updates when additional verified information becomes available. For residents in Niagara Falls, the development is a reminder of unresolved local histories and the importance of community information in assisting long-running investigations.
