Elderly Pierrefonds couple dead after likely murder-suicide

A quiet, elderly couple that a neighbour described as so deeply affectionate of each other that they could be seen holding hands like young lovers when they went for walks is dead after what police is describing as a likely murder-suicide.

"At around 10:30-10:45 a.m. this morning, an officer that answered a call found two bodies, one of a 68-year-old man and one of a 60-year-old woman inside the house that were killed by firearms," said Montreal Police media relations officer Raphaël Bergeron, standing a stone's throw away from a bungalow blocked off by orange police tape on either side of Orléans Street in Pierrefonds/Roxboro.

Earlier media reports so far have hinted the husband, Robert Mailhot, shot his wife Lisette while she was watching television in the living room, and his own body was discovered in the home's garage, but Bergeron could not confirm or deny this.

"I don't know where exactly they were found inside the house, it's not information that we will disclose directly at this point because the investigation's still going on," Bergeron said.

However, that information seemed to make sense to Maria Toht, 77, who lives a few doors down from the scene of the tragedy.

"My husband is very sick," Toht said Lisette had told her, adding he had a heart condition.

Toht was very surprised to come home earlier this afternoon and find her house cordoned off. "I live here," she said she told officers in order to be allowed through.

Sitting in the kitchen of her home, she shook her head as she thought of the Mailhots. "They used to walk hand in hand, like young lovers you know, down on the street," she said. "It's hard to think about what happened."

Furthermore, Lisette Mailhot had been of great help to her, she said. Released from the hospital after a knee surgery operation at Lakeshore General during the winter, Toht said she had difficulty performing some day-to-day tasks. Lisette would frequently help her out with shopping, as well as shovelling her snow.

Another neighbour, Sébastien Robitaille, said he thought he was witnessing the aftermath of yet another break-in incident when he first noticed police cars on Orléans this morning. "That happens a lot around here," he explained.

Robitaille confirmed that Robert Mailhot was indeed sick, adding that, according to relatives, the retired mechanic's condition was terminal.

Robert Mailhot Jr., the son of the deceased, made a brief appearance to reporters earlier in the day. "Suicide is something that touches a lot of families," he said, "and now it is something that I'm living through."

Police arrived on the scene earlier this morning after other neighbours who were supposed to have breakfast with the Mailhots grew alarmed at their not returning any telephone calls. They first called Mailhot's brother, Robitaille said, who went in and made the discovery before alerting police.

Orléans Street remained unperturbed besides a barrage of police officers and reporters today. Some curious neighbours from adjacent streets could be seen approaching the cordoned-off police area to inquire about what had happened. A teenager practised shooting hoops at a net alone right next to the orange police tape, explaining there had been a murder to passersby as he dribbled his basketball.