Hartland, Michigan’s John Germain accused of killing Clay Township’s Virginia Farrell in 1997

John Albert Germain, 54, of Hartland, Hartland Township, Livingston County, Michigan, United States is being held on $1 million bond. Aside from Hartland, he has lived in other parts of Michigan including Algonac, Chesterfield, East China, Fair Haven, Ira, Rose City and Saint Clair.

Germain is accused of murdering Virginia Cecelia Farrell of Clay Township, St. Clair County, Michigan. The latter was 79 years old when she was found dead inside her home in Clay Township on May 17, 1997.

Farrell was brutally beaten and stabbed. No suspect was identified and the case went cold.

John Germain, 54, of Hartland, was arrested by Michigan State Police at his residence and has since had an arraignment in St. Clair County.

This arrest is the result of a 25-year investigation into the death of Virginia Cecelia Farrell of Clay Township.
https://t.co/DqYIlVGXPi

— Livingston Daily (@LivingstonDaily) August 9, 2022

.

In 2007, the Michigan State Police developed a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profile. Still, no suspects were identified.

In 2019, the Michigan State Police initiated a cold case investigation again, reevaluated DNA evidence collected from the crime scene and submitted the result of the examination to the Combined DNA Index System. An investigative lead that was developed associated Germain with crime scene evidence.

On August 2, 2022, the Michigan State Police arrested Germain at his residence in Hartland. On August 3, 2022, he was arraigned on charges of open murder, first-degree criminal sexual conduct and breaking and entering through the 72nd District Court in Port Huron, St. Clair County.

It was Judge Michael Hulewicz who set Germain’s bond at $1 million. The Hartland resident’s probable cause conference is scheduled for August 17, 2022.