Roxboro homicide suspect in critical state

A 68-year-old man who is suspected of having stabbed his wife to death at their home on Sixth Avenue in Roxboro on Saturday night is now in hospital in a critical state due to inhalation of "chemical products," according to Montreal police. "Officers got a call on Saturday at about 8 p.m.," explained media relations officer Daniel Lacoursière, "about a woman being attacked with a sharp object in her home."

He said that, upon arriving on the scene, police discovered the woman was already dead, and had been stabbed "multiple times."

Lacoursière said there were strong odours on the scene, and that the man had inhaled products, but did not specify what the latter were.

According to some residents of Sixth Avenue, this was not the first time emergency units responded to phone calls at the home in question. "The man has tried killing himself three-four times in the past," said Pierre Houde, who lives right on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Gouin.

Houde said the man had tried to kill himself by knife in the past, but failed. "I don't know why they don't put this kind of person away," Houde said Monday afternoon while working in his front yard.

Another neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, lives right across the street from the home where the alleged murder took place. He said he had known the couple for over 40 years, and that their daughters had grown up together. "This was the fifth time," he confirmed, when asked if the man had tried to kill himself before. "I happened to be having supper at a friend's place," when the incident happened, he said. "They weren't short of anything," he added, stating the shock of the homicide has yet to settle in for him a few days later.

He said police got the call from a mattress delivery person who rang the couple's door bell on Saturday evening, only to see the horrible events unfolding before his eyes.

An old mattress could be seen in front of the couple's home Monday, next to a garbage can ready to be picked up.

He added the couple also owned an apartment building across from their home.

The couple, André Beaudet and Monique Chapleau, worked at a local school board, he said.

Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board spokesperson Brigitte Léonard could only say that type of information cannot be released to the public. "That's the kind of information that's considered confidential," she told The Chronicle.