Doug French – Father of Murdered St. Catharines Teen Kristen French, Dies at Age 92

A Few Brief Words from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper

Posted April 19^th, 2024 on Niagara At Larger

Doug French

Thirty-two years after their daughter Kristen’s murdered body was found three torturous days after she did not make it home from school one spring afternoon before the Easter weekend holiday, it is still hard to imagine how Doug and Donna French and others in their family made it through the heartache and horror.

I was still working as a reporter at The St. Catharines Standard at the time and a few times during and after the trials of the monsters responsible for her death, I saw Doug and Donna French standing at the reception desk of our newsroom, waiting to speak to one or more of my news colleagues over stories the paper was continuing to publish on the terrible episode.

One of the oft-published photos of 15-year–old Kristen French, whose murder in 1992 left the entire Niagara community in a state of shock and fear, and reaching out with words of sympathy and support for the French family.

I remember wondering how they could stand there with such strength and dignity after something that no parents in this world should have happen to one of heir beloved children.

By many accounts at the time, their faith,the closeness of their family and friends and the support of so many others in St. Catharines and across the Niagara community had a good deal to do with their ability to make it through.

Doug French passed away this April 14^th, 2024 – five days short of the 32^nd anniversity of the murder of his 15-year-old daughter Kristen – and I am sure that condolences are from many people across Niagara for his wife Donna and other family members.

RIP Doug French

To read the official obituary, click on –

Obituary of Doug William Thomas French | Welcome to the George Dart… (dartefuneralhome.com)

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