Police seek wife’s DNA in Lake Erie homicide investigation – GoErie.com

Investigators collected items that could contain the DNA of Karen Leclair, whose husband is accused of killing her. DNA would be used to identify her body, whenever it is recovered.

Investigators want to be ready if they need to identify the body of a woman who disappeared in Lake Erie this past weekend and has yet to be found.

To find possible DNA samples for 51-year-old Karen Leclair, state police gathered several of her personal items in a search of the Albion-area house she shared with her husband, who is charged in her death, according to a search warrant returned Thursday.

Investigators collected items such as toothbrushes and hairbrushes during a search of the Elk Creek Township residence at9670 Route 6N.

The items were sought "to assist in the identification of (Karen) Leclair when her body is recovered," according to the affidavit filed with the search warrant.

The U.S. Coast Guard declared Karen Leclair deceased Monday after a nearly 30-hour search of Lake Erie. Her husband, Christopher S. Leclair, 48, claimed she fell overboard from their commercial fishing boat.

Investigators have seized a GPS system from the Leclairs' boat in hopes of narrowing down the areas where Christopher Leclair took the boat. Police have said he has not cooperated in locating his wife's body.

"Its a waiting game," said Trooper Cindy Owens, public information officer for state police Troop E in Lawrence Park Township."They're going to make the grid and try to narrow that area down. Once they narrow that area down, then they can send people in to search the water."

Also as part of the homicide investigation, state police are searching the Leclairs' house for financial documentation concerning life insurance policies and bank statements, according to another warrant filed for the house. That warrant had not yet been returned Friday morning.

Christopher Leclair was charged Tuesday with homicide. He reported his wife missing Sunday afternoon from their 52-foot commercial fishing boat, the Doris-M, police said.

Police said surveillance footage showed the Leclairs had boarded the boat together at the East Basin docks, near Dobbins Landing, in Erie, on Saturday afternoon and that, later that day, the boat returned to the East Basin and that Christopher Leclair exited the boat alone.

Police said the footage also showed Christopher Leclair returning to the boat alone Sunday and departing the East Basin.

Leclair is in the Erie County Prison with no bond set because he is charged with homicide. His preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for June 26 before Erie 1st Ward District Judge Sue Mack.

Madeleine O'Neill can be reached at 870-1728 or by email. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNoneill.

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Police seek wife's DNA in Lake Erie homicide investigation - GoErie.com