Hearing continues for accused Ottawa serial killer

An Ottawa man accused of killing three women over several years lived in a housing unit where human remains were found Monday, a neighbour said.

Camille Cleroux, 57, is accused of killing three women over several years and is facing three first-degree murder charges stemming from the deaths. His preliminary hearing continued on Tuesday.

The body of Paula Leclair, 64, was found last June in a wooded area south of the high-rise building on Fairlea Crescent where she lived. Cleroux, who is alleged to have hijacked Leclair's ninth-floor apartment in the Heron Gate neighbourhood, was charged in her death.

About three weeks later, two more first-degree murder charges were laid related to Ottawa cold cases.

Lise Roy, 27, had not been heard from since 1990 and Jean Rock, 32, had not been heard from since 2003.

Neither woman was reported missing and their bodies have never been found, but police said they have reason to believe the women are dead.

Remains found in south Ottawa backyard

There is also a possible connection between Cleroux and remains found Monday in the backyard of a south Ottawa townhouse.

Ottawa police say a construction crew came upon the remains behind Unit 153 at 1535 Heatherington Rd. The coroner later determined the body parts had been in the backyard for a "number of years."

Police would not say whether Cleroux had ever lived in the unit, but a neighbour confirmed it, telling CBC News he spoke with Cleroux a couple times in the few years Cleroux lived there.

Claude Lamoureux, who has lived in the complex for about 20 years, also said his girlfriend remembers Cleroux as "a bad man."

A blue tarp covered the small, fenced backyard Tuesday, where an archeologist was beginning a slow dig for any more remains.

Ottawa police's major crime unit is now investigating the find. Anyone with information is asked to contact the unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493 or Crime Stoppers at 613-233-8477.