In a woeful turn of events in the northeastern expanse of Montreal, a Quebec man purportedly took the lives of his two young boys, before ultimately succumbing to his self-inflicted death. Ian Lamontagne, 46, along with his three-year-old twins, Antoine and Tristan, were found lifeless in their home in Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Quebec.
The circumstances surrounding the tragic event remain undisclosed, with the Quebec provincial police withholding details. It emerged, however, from Patrick Boucher, a six-year acquaintance of the deceased, that Lamontagne had faced arrest mere days before the incident, accused of harassing the mother of his children.
Boucher elaborated, “What he confessed to me was his apprehension for felony harassment en route to his ex-partner’s residence.” Notwithstanding this revelation, he was shortly discharged after his arrest.
The legal department for Quebec has remained silent about any details pertaining to Lamontagne’s arrest. Confidential inputs from the prosecutor’s office suggest that in cases where the accused is released with a commitment to attend court, a complete police investigation is a prerequisite for prosecutors to begin their review process.
Bureau des enquetes independantes, the provincial police watchdog of Quebec, is refraining from probing the case, being of the opinion that the classifications of the deaths are not within its jurisdiction. Quebec Public Security Minister Francois Bonnardel’s spokesperson sidestepped making any comment on the case.
Expressing his dismay, Boucher condemned the act as “horrifying, unacceptable, and unpardonable.” He implored the need to explore how a warmth-filled parental relationship could spiral into an atrociously destructive one.
The Mayor of Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Suzanne Dauphin, expressed that the tragic incident has undeniably shattered the town. She voiced that the incident startlingly exhibits how mental health conditions can afflict anyone. Dauphin urged everyone to remain vigilant for signs of psychological distress amongst their dear ones, and to extend their support unconditionally.
