6 suspected femicides in 6 weeks in Quebec

Quebec police are investigating the sixth suspected femicide in as many weeks after a woman was found dead next to the body of another man in a home on Montreal’s South Shore.

On Tuesday, Longueuil police said the investigation is ongoing, but that at this stage of the probe, “we can say that, in all likelihood, this is a case of femicide followed by suicide.”

Officers were called to a home on Bienvenue Avenue in Brossard after receiving a 911 call at 12:45 a.m. Monday about an alleged armed assault.

• Domestic violence is rising in Quebec: Can taking care of men save women’s lives?

When officers arrived, they found two deceased people in the home with marks of violence on their bodies. Police identified the man as Marcos Amilcar Diaz Lopez, 56, and the woman as Sonia Maricela Gonzalez Vasquez, 54, who lived together.

They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say they had been called to the home in the past.

Diaz Lopez, confirmed as the owner of the home, was facing several charges in 2024, including assault, uttering threats and harassment, but according to court records, the charges were withdrawn last year.

There have been five other suspected femicides in Quebec since the beginning of 2026.

‘Another femicide’

SOS Violence Conjugale, a non-profit organization that works to ensure the safety of victims of intimate partner violence and their children, has been sounding the alarm about the prevalence of domestic violence in Quebec in recent weeks.

On Tuesday, the group reacted to the latest suspected femicide on Montreal’s South Shore.

“For years, we have been talking about the high prevalence of domestic violence and the risks women face in their own homes. For years, we have been talking about the lack of resources and our concerns about post-separation violence, which keeps the danger alive long after the relationship has ended,” the organization wrote on in Facebook page.

“Years... and yet. Another femicide.”

The office of Caroline Proulx, Quebec’s Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, told CTV News she was not available for an interview on Tuesday.

In a written statement, she expressed her sympathies with the family of Gonzalez Vasquez, adding: “Our government has always taken a clear and unequivocal stance: domestic violence is unacceptable and has no place in our society.”

“It must be denounced and combated, and we have a collective duty to protect all those who are victims of it. We are fully aware of the growing needs in this area, which is why we are acting diligently,” reads part of the statement.

The minister pointed to investments made by the province aimed at addressing the issue, including a $150,000 government grant for an awareness project led by À cœur d’homme to better identify the risks of murder-suicide among men who use the organization’s services. This was a recommendation from the Quebec coroner’s office.

Proulx’s office also highlighted the addition of new shelters, including 13 in various stages of development.

“Since 2018, funding for organizations has increased by nearly 98%, representing an additional investment of nearly $156 million,” reads their statement.

“The ministries of Status of Women, Justice, Housing, and Public Safety are working together and have invested more than $1 billion to implement concrete measures to help people experiencing domestic violence.”

SUPPORT NETWORK

Victims of domestic violence can contact SOS violence conjugale at 1-800-363-9010.

Other resources:

• Federation des Maisons d’Hebergement pour Femmes
• Shield of Athena
• Espace Sans Violence
• Regroupement des Maisons Pour Femmes Victimes de Violence Conjugale
• Centre de Solidarite Lesbienne