Prison Inmate Testifies About Chilling Conversation With Quebec Murder Suspect
A man who served time alongside Serge Audette in a federal penitentiary provided dramatic testimony Monday in a Montreal courtroom, recounting how the accused told him "They won't find her" while discussing the disappearance of Patricia Ferguson nearly three decades ago.
Decades-Old Disappearance Case Reaches Courtroom
The body of 23-year-old Patricia Ferguson has never been located since she vanished from Pointe-aux-Trembles in 1996, though authorities presume her dead. Serge Audette, now 72 years old, faces manslaughter charges filed in June 2023 alleging he killed Ferguson on June 6, 1996.
The witness, whose identity remains protected under a publication ban requested by Crown prosecutors due to safety concerns, testified before Quebec Court Judge Dennis Galiatsatos at the Montreal courthouse. The man possesses a substantial criminal record but emphasized he has not been convicted of sex-related offences.
Penitentiary Encounters Reveal Disturbing Details
The witness first encountered Audette at Macaza Institution, a federal penitentiary approximately 175 kilometres north of Montreal typically housing sex offenders. According to testimony, the witness was participating in a job-training program when he admired Audette's craftsmanship on a pair of boots, sparking their initial conversation.
"He asked me if I was at Macaza for a sex-related offence," the witness recalled. "I told him: 'That's not why I'm here.'" The witness stated that Audette responded by acknowledging his own history of violent sex crimes, though he appeared remorseful through his body language.
Second Meeting Yields Crucial Statement
Years later in 2022, while both men were incarcerated at a different federal penitentiary and Audette was under investigation for Ferguson's death, the witness encountered him again. He testified that Audette had lost significant weight, prompting questions about potential illness.
"I didn't recognize him," the witness told the court. During their conversation, Audette revealed he was experiencing stress due to an investigation into "a neighbour's disappearance."
The witness recounted Audette's explanation that "it happened during a night that didn't end well" and that Ferguson "did not come through with sexual favours he expected." Most chillingly, the witness testified that Audette declared: "They won't find her."
"He wasn't talking about a stolen car," the witness emphasized. "He was looking at the floor while he said it."
Police Investigation and Secret Recordings
After leaving the penitentiary and participating in a drug addiction program, the witness was approached by Montreal police investigators. Initially reluctant to cooperate, he eventually agreed to assist homicide detectives who were building a profile of Audette based on people familiar with him.
The witness testified that he changed his mind and began working with police, secretly recording conversations with Audette. The Montreal court listened to at least one of these recorded conversations during Monday's proceedings.
Neighbour's Testimony Provides Context
Last week, another witness testified about the circumstances surrounding Ferguson's disappearance. A neighbour of Audette stated she agreed to care for Ferguson's infant daughter so the young mother could visit Audette in his apartment. This neighbour was reportedly the last person to see Ferguson alive.
The ongoing trial continues to unfold details of a case that has remained unresolved for nearly thirty years, with witness testimony providing new insights into the investigation and the suspect's statements while incarcerated.
