Amélie Lemieux found herself immersed in feelings of validation as she scrutinized the recent coroner’s report. The document spanned 85 pages, all of which served to underscore her long-standing conviction: that the Quebec provincial police committed several errors in the process of searching for her two daughters.
In a tragic incident that took place in July 2020, Norah, aged 11, and Romy, aged 6, were taken and later killed by their father. Since that time, Lemieux has maintained her steadfast belief in the inadequacy of the police response following her daughters’ disappearance, a sentiment mirrored by coroner Luc Malouin.
“The coroner’s report and I have been allies in the fight for truth over the past three years,” Lemieux conveyed in an interview, as she was translated from French. She continued, “This report fortifies me in the knowledge that I wasn’t alone in my thoughts or assertions, and that I wasn’t wrong.”
The report, made public on Tuesday, did not lay the blame on the Sureté du Québec (SQ) for the tragic death of the young girls. However, Malouin did state that the SQ had been excessively tardy in carrying out the search for the girls and in issuing an Amber Alert.
The details of their disappearance unravel a distressing story. Martin Carpentier, their father, abducted his daughters following a car crash near Saint-Apollinaire, southwest of Quebec City. The unfortunate discovery of Norah and Romy’s lifeless bodies occurred three days later in a nearby forest. Carpentier was found dead over a week later, the cause of death being suicide.
As Lemieux continues to grapple with her loss, she admits she often contemplates “why Martin did it,” still struggling to understand.
Amidst the unfolding tragedy, the couple were separated and in the process of a divorce. Testimonies from family and friends indicate an escalating angst in Carpentier over potentially losing custody of his children.
The coroner’s inquiry revealed additional missteps by the SQ. It was found that neither Quebec City police nor wildlife protection officers were enlisted to aid the search efforts. In light of this, Malouin recommended an augmentation of cooperative efforts involving other police forces, wildlife protection officers, and volunteers from the Association québécoise des bénévoles en recherche et sauvetage (AQBRS) in future cases.
He also called for the police to issue media alerts expediently in disappearance cases, particularly those involving children who are 13 or younger. Lemieux expressed hope that law enforcement would heed this advice going forward.
The SQ issued a press release acknowledging appreciation for the coroner’s recommendations. It was also stated that search and rescue training has been refined, along with adjustments to the Ambert Alert system among other updates.
Despite these developments, Lemieux is quick to point out that no progression can alter the past. Regardless, she recognizes the importance of the lessons from this heartrending incident, stating, “It’s a pity that it took the loss of two innocent lives for us to realize we could have done better.”
Lemieux, along with her legal team, have initiated preliminary legal action against the SQ. She expressed optimism about resolving issues amicably with the Quebec Attorney General.
While legal matters are underway, Lemieux admitted her focus remains on healing. She noted, “Every day is a challenge and I’m battling with fragments of memory, fear, and bouts of trauma. I am however regularly consulting with doctors to manage this. The journey to recovery, though steep, goes on.”
