It is said that justice has a long arm, but not yet long enough to pin down the perpetrator of the double murder that cost the lives of the former mayor of Saint-Clet, André Leroux and his partner, Christiane Maurice, on July 5, 1994.
That morning, the police went to the couple’s residence located at 85, chemin du Ruisseau Nord to discover the bodies of the two victims, apparently murdered.
A file still classified among the unresolved cases of the Sûreté du Québec, which still has no new significant element to lay charges, we were recently confirmed again.
A terrible tragedy that sent shockwaves through the community, where the two victims were well known. André Leroux, 54, had been mayor of Saint-Clet since 1977 and held interests in a few businesses, including the former Les Arpents Verts bar located in the heart of the village. Christiane Maurice, 35, had been secretary-treasurer of the municipality for two years.
At the scene of the tragedy, there was no sign of a break-in; the two spouses were returning from their chalet located nearby in Saint-Zotique and they were dressed like people who were getting ready to start a new day.
“The police noted that these two people were hit by one or more firearm projectiles,” we can read in the report from coroner Marcel Clément.
According to the police investigation, the shooter first shot Mr. Leroux in the head and then had no choice but to do the same to his partner to prevent her from raising the alarm. However, it was Ms. Maurice who probably called the police since the call was not made by the immediate neighbor – the dispatcher even heard gunshots during the call before losing contact with her.
Reckoning ?
As for the motive of the perpetrator of this double murder, the presence of an RCMP officer at the victims’ home on the morning of the tragedy suggested that it was linked to cigarette smuggling.
Some time earlier, a police operation targeting cigarette and alcohol smuggling had led to the arrest of about 20 people. The RCMP had offered no response when it was suggested that those who had ordered the mayor’s murder might have believed that he was the one who had reported them to the police.
Other lines of investigation also converged on an employee of Mr. Leroux. He had shown up at the victims’ home on the morning of the murder to carry out some small jobs and had come face to face with the killer.
The latter made him get into a van that belonged to André Leroux, handcuffing him and covering his head. He was found around 10 a.m. near a park in the St-Henri district of Montreal.
The tenant of a home belonging to Mr. Leroux, who was involved in drug trafficking, was also suspected. In both cases, no charges could be brought by prosecutors in the case.
Memories
This double murder was one of the most significant legal events in the Soulangeois community. Mr. Leroux’s daughter, Josée Leroux, says she experienced real trauma that she still carries with her today; but she did not want to elaborate further when we requested an interview.
Unsolved cases
In addition, three broadcasts will be devoted to the double murder of Saint-Clet as part of the new series of legal cases entitled The Parlorhosted by Victoria Charlton and Félyx Séguin. These will be broadcast on November 7, 14 and 21 on the new channel Witness.
