OPP officials allege: A British Columbia man has been charged in connection with a series of violent sexual assaults that occurred across southwestern Ontario in 1997, following a decades-long, multi-jurisdictional investigation known as Project Aerial.
Between March and August of 1997, four separate sexual assaults took place in Lambton County, Kent County and the City of Sarnia. Four female victims — three of whom were young persons at the time — came forward to police. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Sarnia Police Service (SPS) each launched investigations in their respective jurisdictions, providing resources and victim support throughout.
The first case occurred on March 26, 1997, when a female youth was abducted in Sarnia near Exmouth Street and Indian Road around 9:30 p.m. She was taken by an unidentified man driving a dark blue small- or mid-sized vehicle to a location in Sombra Township, Lambton County, where she was sexually assaulted.
A second assault happened on May 23, 1997, when a female youth walking along Highway 21 in Thamesville was picked up by an unidentified man in a light blue or grey two-door vehicle around 11:55 a.m. She was driven to a wooded area and sexually assaulted.
On June 7, 1997, around 2 a.m., an adult woman walking on Campbell Street in Sarnia was picked up by a man driving a red vehicle. The suspect took her to a remote area nearby, where she was sexually assaulted.
The fourth incident occurred on August 20, 1997, at approximately 10:40 p.m., when a female youth walking along Grand Avenue West in Chatham was picked up by a man driving a blue vehicle. She was taken to Dover Township, Kent County, and sexually assaulted.
In all four cases, the assailant left the victims at the scene and fled. Police believed the same man was responsible for the attacks. Two of the incidents — those from March and June 1997 — were later linked through DNA evidence. Despite extensive investigative efforts and repeated public appeals, the identity of the suspect remained unknown for years.
In January 2024, new advancements in DNA technology and forensic analysis by the Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS) connected all four assaults to the same individual. The OPP then used Investigative Genetic Genealogy and other techniques to identify a suspect.
On October 26, 2025, with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), and the OPP Emergency Response Team, police arrested a man in Campbell River, B.C. The accused was transferred to Ontario the next day to face charges.
Jason Timothy Davidson, 52, of Campbell River, has been charged with 15 offences, including aggravated sexual assault, three counts of sexual assault, sexual assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault with a weapon, kidnapping, four counts of forcible confinement, three counts of uttering threats, and theft. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Chatham on Oct. 29.
The investigation remains ongoing under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, with support from the Lambton and Essex OPP Crime Unit, CFS, SPS, RCMP, VPD and Calgary Police Service. Police have released photos of the accused and are encouraging anyone with information to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers.
“Project Aerial reflects decades of persistence and commitment, not only from the victims who had the courage to come forward, but also from the investigators who never stopped pursuing answers,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns, Investigations and Organized Crime. “I want to recognize the dedication of both current and former members of the investigative team, as well as the exceptional coordination across provincial jurisdictions that made this arrest possible. This development reinforces that time does not diminish our commitment and we remain focused on delivering answers, supporting victims and survivors and upholding our commitment to public safety.”
“First and foremost, we recognize the incredible courage of the victims who came forward and endured nearly three decades of uncertainty while waiting for answers,” said OPP Detective Inspector Michael Moore, CIB. “This arrest marks a major breakthrough in a decades-old investigation, made possible through advancements in DNA technology, Investigative Genetic Genealogy and by the tireless dedication of police and our partners. While we know nothing can erase the pain of these experiences, we hope that these charges bring some measure of resolution to the victims and their families.”
The OPP emphasized that the investigation continues and urged anyone with information to come forward. Anyone with knowledge of the case can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
