Woman found dead in Montreal, son charged – first homicide of 2023 on the island

The son of a woman found dead in a Montreal apartment on Wednesday morning has been charged with second-degree murder in her death.

Lysanne Gendron, 61, is the first homicide victim of the year on the island and third murder in Quebec – all of whom were women.

Her 28-year-old son, Emmanuel Gendron-Tardif, remains detained until his next court hearing, Feb. 28.

Montreal police (SPVM) found her body in a Ville-Marie apartment around 7:20 a.m., after a 911 call came in to check on the person in the apartment on Fullum, near De Rouen.

On Wednesday afternoon, SPVM said they were questioning a man described as an “important witness,” but by Thursday morning, confirmed it was the victim’s son and confirmed his arrest.

Once on the scene, SPVM officers found the woman unresponsive, with traces of violence on their body. Reportedly stabbed to death.

She was pronounced dead onsite.

Three women dead in first 25 days of 2023, advocates are worried

Three women dead in Quebec, isn’t lost on those working with victims of intimate-partner violence. Advocates say enough is enough.

“It’s not getting better, it’s getting worse,” says Linda Basque, spokesperson for Info-Femmes, a community organization created by and for women, fighting against gender-based discrimination and violence.

“We seem to be going around in circles. We keep doing this. I keep saying how angry and sad I am and nothing is changing.”

On January 12, Nadine Flora Alinanyinyi, a 31-year-old from Cameroon, was found dead in her Mont-Saint-Hilaire home. She was allegedly stabbed to death.

A few days later, the bodies of a man and his sister found in a residence in Vaudreuil. The 45-year-old woman reportedly killed by her brother, who then took his own life.

“It’s much more common than we think,” she says. “And, when it comes to domestic violence, intimate partner violence, very often the victim will not talk about it, will not want to talk about it or accuse the intimate partner because of that relationship. So imagine when it’s your son. There’s even less willingness on the part of the victim to accuse the son. And in fact, even to yourselves, you don’t want to face the fact that this person is being violent towards you.”

Education is crucial

Educations remains the key, according to Basque.

“I think that looking at how we can teach our boys and our young men not to need to control women because this is the problem,” she says. “These men in all these situations, whether it’s intimate partner or a son, it’s a question of control.”

While the issue appears to be getting worse, resources continue to be lacking.

“In order to [tackle the issue,] we have to see more local initiatives,” Basque says.

“We have an initiative in Mercier, one in Montreal North. There are some very helpful initiatives right now, but we need more. And these initiatives allow all the different partners, local partners, to work together to be able to share information and to better protect these women.”

If you need help, reach out. Call Info-Femmes 514-355-4529 or SOS violence conjugal 24/7 at 1-800-363-9010.

If you fear you may become violent towards your partner, call PRO-GAM for an appointment at 514-270-8462.