Quebec police arrest man after body of missing woman found southwest of Montreal

MONTREAL — Quebec provincial police arrested a man on Thursday in connection with the disappearance of 29-year-old Kelsey Watt, who was reported missing over the weekend.

Police made the announcement not long after they found a woman’s body near Watt’s home in Hemmingford, Que., a village near the Quebec-U.S. border about 50 kilometres southwest of Montreal.

A police spokeswoman said an autopsy has been ordered to confirm the person’s identity and cause of death.

The body was found not far from where Watt was last seen in the community of less than 1,000 people.

A few hours after the discovery, investigators with the crimes against persons unit arrested a man in his 30s in connection with her disappearance.

In a statement, police wouldn’t say if the man will face charges, adding that investigators were attempting to clarify his involvement in the case.

Watt was last seen about 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 in Hemmingford. A vast search for the missing woman took place over the weekend involving provincial police patrol officers, specialized police units, local firefighters and the RCMP.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.

The Canadian Press