Camille Cléroux: The Forgotten Canadian Serial Killer Who Hid in Plain Sight
Camille Cléroux was a Canadian serial killer who managed to evade justice for over two decades, hiding his crimes in plain sight. Unlike more infamous serial killers who sought recognition or notoriety, Cléroux was a quiet and unremarkable figure, living in poverty and targeting people he knew personally. His victims included his wife, his neighbor, and a close friend, and for years, he managed to convince people that they had simply left or disappeared.
It wasn’t until 2010—when he murdered his third known victim, Paula Leclair—that police finally unraveled his dark past. By the time he was arrested, Cléroux had left a trail of violence spanning over 20 years.
This blog post takes a deep dive into the life, crimes, and eventual downfall of Camille Cléroux, a man who remained in the shadows for far too long.
Early Life and Background
Who Was Camille Cléroux?
Camille Cléroux was born in 1950 in Ottawa, Ontario. Little is known about his early life, but he grew up in a troubled household and had a history of violence from a young age.
Unlike the charismatic or highly intelligent serial killers often depicted in media, Cléroux was unremarkable and forgettable. He had no close friends, no stable career, and no real aspirations. He worked low-wage, labor-intensive jobs, sometimes experiencing periods of homelessness.
Those who knew him described him as a loner—quiet and socially awkward, but not someone who would raise suspicion. However, those closest to him saw a much darker side—one filled with violent tendencies, manipulation, and deadly intentions.
The Victims of Camille Cléroux
Unlike serial killers who target strangers, Cléroux preyed on people in his immediate circle, which helped him cover his tracks for years. His victims were women who trusted him—wives, neighbors, and friends.
Victim #1: Lise Roy (Murdered in 1990, Found in 2010)
Lise Roy was Cléroux’s first wife.
The couple had a volatile and abusive relationship.
In 1990, she vanished without a trace.
Cléroux told people that she had left him, a lie that went unquestioned for years.
Her remains were discovered 20 years later in an Ottawa park after Cléroux finally confessed to her murder.
Victim #2: Jean Rock (Murdered in 2003, Found in 2010)
Jean Rock was a close friend and neighbor of Cléroux.
In 2003, he brutally bludgeoned her to death.
He buried her in the backyard of a home where he had lived.
Even after her disappearance, Cléroux boasted about the killing to others, but no one took his words seriously.
Victim #3: Paula Leclair (Murdered in 2010, Immediately Discovered)
Paula Leclair, 64, was Cléroux’s neighbor.
In 2010, he strangled her in her own apartment.
After killing her, Cléroux moved into her home and began using her debit card, attempting to assume her life.
Unlike his previous victims, Leclair had an active family who immediately noticed her disappearance, prompting a swift police investigation.
How Cléroux Was Finally Caught
For 20 years, Cléroux got away with murder, simply by lying and preying on society’s lack of interest in missing persons cases.
However, in 2010, he made a fatal mistake—he killed someone whose family immediately reported her missing.
The Investigation That Ended His Killing Spree
When police investigated Leclair’s disappearance, they quickly noticed suspicious activity:
Cléroux had moved into Leclair’s apartment almost overnight.
He was using her debit card to withdraw money.
He had no clear explanation for where she was.
Under interrogation, Cléroux crumbled
He quickly confessed to Leclair’s murder.
But then, to investigators’ shock, he also admitted to killing his wife, Lise Roy, and his friend, Jean Rock.
He even led police to the burial sites of his previous victims, finally revealing the truth about their fates.
His confessions closed two long-unsolved missing persons cases and provided justice for families who had been left with unanswered questions for decades.
The Trial and Sentencing
In 2012, Cléroux pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder. His guilty plea:
Spared the victims’ families from a prolonged trial.
Ensured a swift conviction.
Confirmed the truth behind the missing women’s disappearances.
He was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 25 years. Given his age—61 years old at the time of sentencing—this was effectively a death sentence.
Life in Prison and Death
Camille Cléroux spent the rest of his life behind bars in a maximum-security Canadian prison. Unlike many high-profile killers, Cléroux did not seek media attention or cause disturbances in prison.
In 2021, Cléroux died in prison at the age of 71. The exact cause of his death was never publicly disclosed, but it was reported to be from natural causes.
His death was quiet, unremarkable, and largely ignored by the media—a stark contrast to the horror and devastation he had caused.
Why Did It Take So Long to Catch Him?
The most chilling part of Cléroux’s crimes is how easily he got away with murder for decades. Several key factors contributed to his ability to remain undetected:
He Targeted Women With Few Connections – His first wife, Lise Roy, had no close family looking for her, making her disappearance easy to dismiss.
He Lied, and People Believed Him – He told neighbors and friends that Lise Roy had "left him," and no one questioned it for 20 years.
Police Didn’t Investigate Missing Adults Aggressively – Until Leclair’s family actively reported her missing, there had been no serious police interest in Cléroux’s past.
He Lived in Poverty and Was Overlooked by Society – Cléroux was a low-profile, unremarkable man, making him less suspicious than the stereotypical serial killer.
His case serves as a terrifying reminder that serial killers don’t always fit the Hollywood mold—they can be quiet, unnoticed people living right next door.
Final Thoughts on Camille Cléroux
Camille Cléroux never became as infamous as serial killers like Paul Bernardo or Robert Pickton, but his crimes are just as horrific and unsettling. His ability to operate undetected for 20 years highlights serious flaws in how missing persons cases are handled.
Ultimately, his story reminds us that sometimes the most dangerous killers aren’t the ones who seek attention—they’re the ones hiding in plain sight.
Further Reading & True Crime Books
If you’re fascinated by true crime stories, check out these books:
📖 The Serial Killer Files – A deep dive into the minds of serial killers.
📖 Canadian Serial Killers – Details Canada’s most notorious killers.
(Affiliate links: Purchasing through them helps support this blog at no extra cost to you.)
Comments