The suspect in the disappearance of Julie Surprenant was a neighbour of the family in Terrebonne, Que., according to a report in the Journal de Montréal.

The newspaper says traces of blood were found in the 47-year-old man's car and home, but the analysis of the blood is not complete.

Surprenant has not been seen since she got off a bus in Terrebonne just metres from her home on a Tuesday evening in mid-November 1999.

Police are not yet releasing the identity of the suspect.