Year in review: Manhunt for Martin Carpentier ends in tragedy

MONTREAL – The entire province of Quebec was shaken by an Amber Alert-turned-manhunt in the summer of 2020 that eventually ended in tragedy. Here are how the events unfolded in the search for Martin Carpentier and his daughters Romy and Norah.

Surete du Quebec issue Amber Alert

On the evening of July 9, Quebec provincial police issued an Amber Alert to locate 44-year-old suspect Martin Carpentier and his two missing daughters: Norah Carpentier, 11, and Romy Carpentier, 6, from Levis, Que., located south of Quebec City.

Investigators suspected the three people were involved in a car crash and left the area on foot in St-Apollinaire, Que. The search was being concentrated around the crash site.

Investigators said the car was heading east when it skidded into the median, flipped over and landed on the shoulder on the opposite side of the highway. But police did not find any occupants inside the car when they arrived.

Police asked nearby residents to check their properties, including sheds, barns and cottages. K-9 were deployed.

Two girls found dead, Amber Alert lifted

On July 11 – two days after the Ambert Alert was issued – the two girls were found dead in a wooded area of St-Apollinaire. The Amber Alert was lifted with the grim discovery.

The search was still on for the girls’ father, Martin Carpentier. Authorities tightened the search in a thickly wooded area near where the young sisters were found. A helicopter, a drone and police dogs were all involved in the search.

Two days later, police first raised the possibility Carpentier could be unconscious or dead.

READ MORE: Quebec police come up empty on seventh day searching for father of girls found dead

Later that evening, the mother of the two young girls – Amelie Lemieux – attended a makeshift memorial at Chutes de la Chaudiere park in Levis, Que., accompanied by a few dozen members of her family.

“My two beautiful princesses of love. I wanted and waited for you so much. From your very first breath, I loved you unconditionally. You are my entire life, my reason to exist,” she said through tears.

“Be my stars in the night who will guide my steps across this immeasurable pain. I love you madly. I love you to infinity.”

Manhunt for Martin Carpentier continues

The manhunt for the missing father entered an eighth day on July 16. Police said they found evidence that Carpentier was in a trailer in the area. Police asked residents to check their cottages, trailers or buildings for signs of a break-in, such as missing or moved clothing, food, or equipment.

“It’s an individual who is currently, if he is still alive – and the elements we have lead us to believe he is – is looking to ensure his survival and to hide,” said a provincial police spokesperson.

READ MORE: Quebec mayor satisfied with search as police shift tactics in hunt for missing dad

By July 18, police said they searched 700 locations and followed up on more than 1,000 tips to find Carpentier.

On July 20, a funeral was held for the two young sisters Romy and Norah. Dozens lined up to pay their respects to the family, including colleagues of the girls’ mother, Amelie Lemieux, as well as strangers who’d been struck by the deaths.

Police discover body of Martin Carpentier

That evening –12 days after the car crash – Quebec police found the body of Martin Carpentier, who took his own life after murdering the two young girls. All three deaths occurred within a 12-hour period following the July 8 car crash.

Police said the car crash was not deliberate and there were signs Carpentier tried to regain control of the vehicle.

“Every behaviour that was noted … prior to that moment, is behaviour that is normal, that fits what we would expect from that individual,” said police spokesman Guy Lapointe. “Except that from that point on, following the crash, it’s everything else that doesn’t add up to what we would call normal behaviour.”

READ MORE: Police say Quebec sisters were victims of a double murder committed by their father

The three were last seen alive in the minutes following the crash, crossing the highway and heading into the woods. Investigators found Carpentier’s DNA inside a trailer within the search perimeter.

The girls’ bodies were found about 750 metres away from the trailer and Martin Carpentier’s body was found about 5.5 kilometres away from the crash site.

Police said when the Amber Alert was launched, the girls had already been killed earlier that morning.