In May 2001, a disturbing discovery was made in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador: a severed human skull concealed in a shopping bag and buried in a wooded area off Minerals Road. Despite extensive investigative efforts, the victim remained unidentified for over two decades, known only as “Conception Bay John Doe.”
The skull’s condition and the manner in which it was hidden indicated foul play, leading authorities to classify the case as a homicide. However, lacking additional remains or identifying features, and with no matching records in national databases, the case quickly went cold.
In 2021, seeking new avenues to solve the case, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) collaborated with Othram Inc., a Texas-based forensic laboratory specializing in advanced DNA analysis, which developed a comprehensive DNA profile from the skull. This profile was then used to conduct genealogical research, eventually leading to a breakthrough in early 2024 when a match was found with a first cousin of the victim. This connection enabled investigators to identify the remains as those of Temistocle Fernández Casas.
Temistocle “Temi” Fernández Casas was a Cuban citizen who entered Canada on a tourist visa in April 1992, arriving in Quebec City. Details about his life in Canada are sparse, and it’s unclear how or why he traveled to Newfoundland and Labrador. Investigators believe he was murdered between 1994 and 1997, in his early 30s at the time of death.
With Fernández Casas’s identity confirmed, the RNC has renewed efforts to piece together the circumstances surrounding his death. They are particularly interested in speaking with individuals who may have known him during his time in Canada. One person of interest is Joanne Bergeron, believed to have worked as a travel agent in Cuba prior to April 1992 and to have known Fernández Casas. She would be approximately 68 years old today.
The RNC is eager for anyone with information about Fernández Casas or his associates to come forward so the mysterious case can finally be solved after approximately thirty years.
Crime Immemorial 