ACTRESS/PRODUCER/CHILD-ACTIVIST FOLKLAUR CHEVRIER ACQUIRES LIFE RIGHTS FROM FAMILY OF “COLD CASE” MURDER VICTIM CHRISTINE JESSOP

 

September 30, 2019 – Nine-year-old Christine Jessop vanished after school in her hometown of Queensville on Oct. 3, 1984. Her mangled body was discovered on New Year’s Eve 56 km from home.

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Canada’s grisliest child murder – a tragedy that not only horrified the nation, but created a landmark in history of wrongful convictions (DNA evidence exonerated neighbour Guy Paul Morin, who was initially convicted her for murder) - remains an unsolved case, with a broken family who has lived and endured that mystery.

 

Each and every year on October 3 - this week marking 35 years - the media has descended on the Jessop family in the hopes they would share their story and experiences. 

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They have kept silent as rumours and reports circulated about the identity of Christine’s real killer, not to mention false statements and stories about their family. 

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Now, Folklaur Chevrier has received the Jessop family’s consent by acquiring the exclusive Life Rights to tell their story and shed new light on the vacuum of information that has surrounded Christine’s death for 35 years. Chevrier’s company, Folklaur Films, is currently in talks with directors, writers and prospective co-producers to bring the feature documentary on the Jessop’s full story, to the screen.

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A decade ago, inspired by the surge of press marking the 25th anniversary of Christine’s murder, Chevrier, an actress involved with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection Inc., introduced herself to the Jessop family and became a confidante. 

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“I initially approached Janet and Kenneth (Christine’s mother and brother) 10 years ago,” Chevrier says. “Gradually, they opened up to the idea of a film and I’ve been willing to wait until they were comfortable and earned their trust. 

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“I will document what they feel has been their experience, and will share their truth with authenticity. Accuracy and fairness are the two guiding principles as I truly care about the integrity of this project. This heartbreaking story is in part for the audience to see what the Jessop’s have gone through, and to see how they have astonishingly survived. 

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“As an advocate for The Canadian Centre for Child Protection,” Chevrier adds, “I believe it is my responsibility to tell the horrid truth that surrounds child abduction, to unearth the riveting untold story that has made Janet & Kenneth Jessop's life a living hell. 

“In 2018, there were 42,233 reports of missing children in Canada. Every 40 seconds in the United States, a child goes missing or is abducted. That is staggering.” 

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What fascinated Chevrier about the Christine Jessop story was the plethora of unanswered questions and astonishingly few facts. She has spent much of the past decade doing her own investigative work in preparation for the feature film. 

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“I think we as a culture are not apathetic about human stories,” she says. “We do care. We care a great deal. We do want to get involved and fight for justice. The mystery and loose-ends of a case like this haunt us as human beings.”