On September 21, 2007, Marc Cummings, a 52-year-old single father, was beaten to death at his hunting camp in Cawood, Québec which is south of Maniwaki. More than sixteen years after the events, his murder remains unsolved.
“When you Google his name, nothing comes up. It’s as if he never existed. But my brother, he existed,” says Ann straight away, her voice breaking with emotion.
The day before his death, Marc Cummings left work to go to the apartment where he lived with his son Francis Cummings. Not having a car, he had to be accompanied by a friend.
Once home, he left a note for his son informing him that he had left with “Roger”, one of his acquaintances. However, he was never seen alive again.
It was only five days later, during extensive searches, that his nephew and his brother in law (best friend) discovered the body, stripped of his wallet, jewelry and keys.
Incomprehension
Sixteen years later, Ann still struggles to understand why the investigation into her brother’s murder has not moved forward.
For her, the police have not been doing their job for sixteen years.
“I called the SQ several times to find out what happened to the evidence collected at the crime scene. Nobody seems to have the answer,” she laments.
At the time, police seized a bloodstained canoe near his brother’s body. Years later, this same canoe appears to have disappeared from the evidence room. An investigator also reportedly told him that the canoe “took up too much space” in the warehouse.
Marc Cummings’ pants, whose pockets would have been turned inside out to take his wallet, also seem to have been lost, indicates the victim’s sister. Likewise, the analysis of cigarette butts found at the crime scene does not appear to have been thorough.
“A colleague of Marc’s came to see me telling me that she had found an important email in his belongings. When I told the police, they confirmed that they had received the email. Now they say no,” says Ann, to cite just one example.
It has now been two years since she contacted the SQ to have her brother’s photo published on their site. Today, she is still waiting.
“The police told me there was a delay because of COVID. But it’s been two years! At least if there was his face somewhere and someone knew something…” she says indignantly.
Person of interest
Early in the investigation, “Roger” was named as a person of interest in the murder of Marc Cummings. However, he always refused to collaborate.
The man, well known to the police, was allegedly involved in a marijuana seizure the Monday before the murder. A search which took place on Marc Cummings’ hunting camp, according to his sister.
For her, it is quite clear that her brother received money in exchange for his land, which was ultimately used to grow marijuana.
“Marc was the weak link in the group, that’s for sure. He was not involved in the work, but he received money to keep quiet. After the seizure, they wanted to silence him for good,” thinks Ann.
She remains convinced that the marijuana seizure has something to do with her brother’s murder. However, sixteen years after the fact, she still remains with so many unanswered questions.
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