16°c Overcast
21°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Quebec town grieves as police probe kids' deaths
Father offers short public statement
The Canadian Press Laurv�lie, 5, Anav�s, 2, and Lov�c Desautels, 4, are seen in a family photo. (CP)
STE-CHRISTINE, Que. -- Just last week, Patrick Desautels was sharing the joy of his son's fourth birthday at a family gathering with all three of his children in a local restaurant in rural Quebec.
On Tuesday, Desautels was back in the same eatery in Ste-Christine, but this time he was contemplating the tragic deaths of the three kids.
"I'd like to thank everyone who have banded together to help us -- myself and my family -- in this terrible ordeal," Desautels said as he read from a prepared statement. "The pain we are experiencing is inexplicable."
His comments lasted less than a minute and Desautels said he could say little more because of the ongoing police investigation.
The children were found dead on Sunday at their mother's home under what police are calling suspicious circumstances.
Police have not confirmed how LoÆc, two-year-old AnaÆs and five-year-old Laurlie died.
Josée Desgranges owns Resto Entre-Amy, the restaurant where Desautels, his new girlfriend and the three children congregated under joyous circumstances last Friday.
"Everybody was happy; they had poutines, the kids were very happy," Desgranges told The Canadian Press.
"The children came here very often so it's very sad."
A funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at St-André's Church in nearby Acton Vale.
"Everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder to help the family," Ste-Christine Mayor Huguette St-Pierre-Beaulac said.
"People can't understand how such a tragedy can come about."
St-Pierre-Beaulac said townspeople have formed a committee to help the Desautels family, which owns a tree nursery.
Residents are being encouraged to donate at the local bank or at various locations around town.
St-Pierre-Beaulac said the Desautels family is very involved in the community.
A few weeks ago, they opened up their grounds to hold a local Christmas fair where the entire community was invited. The family also distributes vegetable baskets in the community.
"Whenever they are needed, they are always there to lend a helping hand," St-Pierre-Beaulac said.
Provincial police said there was little more to report on Tuesday. Investigators were still waiting to meet with the children's 33-year-old mother, who was listed in stable condition in hospital.
Autopsies on the three young victims were completed on Tuesday, Sgt. Claude Denis said. But police did not reveal how the children died or where they were found exactly.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 5, 2012 A8
More Canada
- Back to Top
- Return to Canada
More Canada
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Quebec journalist and author in critical condition after car accident
05/25/2013 3:08 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Canada
- Canadian trucker centre of bridge-collapse inquiry
- Doug Ford denies Globe report that he dealt hashish in 80s
- Sask. premier says time to abolish Senate
- Parents of dead toddler scream, swear in court
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- 'I do not use crack cocaine': Ford ends week of silence on crack video scandal
- Ex-cop slain in Mexico loved animals: friend
- Quebec journalist and author in critical condition after car accident
- Ethics investigations can only go so far, commissioner reminds Canadians
- A strictly by-the-book investigation
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Mother cries, yells as driver appears in court charged with killing boy on patio
- Harper to be on hot seat at Tuesday caucus after chief of staff quits
- Abrupt departure for Mayor Rob Ford's chief of staff amid 'crack video' scandal
- Toronto mayor stays silent about alleged crack video as Trudeau, Wynne weigh in
- Baird takes the heat, Harper sheds little light on Senate spending scandal
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- 'I do not use crack cocaine': Ford ends week of silence on crack video scandal
- First-degree murder charge to be laid in test drive death; remains badly burned
- Multiple fatalities after serious crash near U.S. border
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Canadian tourist dies after falling from hotel in Mexican resort
- Crack-cocaine video allegations 'ridiculous,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford says
- Arrest made in case of Hamilton, Ont., man missing after pickup truck test drive
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- Canadian trucker centre of bridge-collapse inquiry
- Sask. premier says time to abolish Senate
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Canadian and American missing for nearly two weeks in Mexico
- Harper government buying ads to promote job grant program that doesn't yet exist
- A look at the life and career of Ray Novak, prime minister's new chief of staff
- Toronto, eh? Late-night TV cracks up audiences with jibes at Mayor Rob Ford
- Second suspect in test drive killing charged with first-degree murder
- Canadians invited to weigh in on wind turbine proposal for Juno Beach
- Appointees to EI boards broke guidelines by making political donations
- U.S. bill would give Canadian snowbirds more time to spend in the sun
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Man with no arms plans to fight seatbelt ticket, wants apology from police
- Leaving Saskatoon: police mourn homeless drunk they considered a friend
- Commanding officer of Canadian Forces base in Alberta charged with sex assault
- Duffy bailout by Harper's chief of staff prompts allegations of coverup by PMO
- Ottawa threatens 'retaliatory measures' over new U.S. meat labelling regulations
- Woman run over three times by her own car
- Prince Philip presented with Order of Canada during royal visit to Toronto
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.