After decades on the run, the individual accused of killing a woman and disposing of her body in 1975 near Ottawa has been apprehended and returned to Canada.

On December 1, 2023, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigators, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service-Office of International Operations in Florida, escorted Rodney Nichols back to eastern Ontario. Nichols, who was charged with murder in late 2022, had been residing in Hollywood, Florida.

Currently, the accused remains in custody and is scheduled to make a virtual appearance before the Ontario Court of Justice in L’Orignal on December 2, 2023.

The chilling case dates back to May 3, 1975, when the remains of an unidentified woman were discovered in the Nation River, just a short distance from the Highway 417 bridge near the town of Casselman. Due to her unknown identity, she was referred to as the ‘Nation River Lady’.

In a remarkable breakthrough in 2020, the victim was finally identified as 48-year-old Jewell ‘Lalla’ Langford, thanks to advanced DNA testing conducted by the OPP. This scientific advancement allowed investigators to link the remains to Langford, bringing hope for justice to her family after decades of uncertainty.

With the case now before the courts, the OPP is unable to provide any further information on the ongoing investigation. However, the arrest and extradition of Rodney Nichols signify a significant step towards resolving this haunting cold case and holding the alleged perpetrator accountable for his actions.