The father of three young children whose bodies were found in a home northeast of Montreal says he’s devastated by their “inexplicable” deaths.
The bodies of three siblings -- girls Anais, 2 and Lorelie, 5, and their four-year-old brother, Loic -- were discovered Sunday on the top floor of a red-brick duplex in Drummondville, Que.
"We are currently together as a family and this tragedy leaves us without words," Patrick Desautels wrote in a statement. "The police investigation will tell us more about the circumstances of the tragedy. What has taken place is inexplicable."
The children’s mother, identified as 33-year-old Sonia Blanchette, was removed from the scene on a stretcher and taken to hospital. She was still there on Monday and police said they hope to speak to her soon because she is considered an important witness in their investigation.
Desautels said that he will miss his children for the rest of his life and asked reporters to let the family grieve in peace.
Autopsies were expected to be performed on the children later Monday to determine how they died. Police have not indicated any cause of death, nor have they said where the children were found in the home.
Police received a 911 call Sunday around 4 p.m. that led them to the gruesome discovery. It’s unclear who made the call.
One neighbour told CTV Montreal she heard screams from the home and believes they came from the children’s grandmother.
Other neighbours reported seeing the children’s father at the home earlier on Sunday, but this information has not been corroborated by police.
Neighbours also said they believe the father had primary custody of the children. Last year, Blanchette was arrested and charged with breaking a custody order. That case is still before the courts.
Drummondville is located about 100 kilometres northeast of Montreal.
With a report from CTV Montreal and files from The Canadian Press
