Authorities have detained and accused a man of killing his wife, whose body was discovered in a secluded area of Oregon on Friday, seven days after she vanished while hiking with her two dogs.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Michel Fournier, 71, was taken into custody by officers on Saturday after killing Susan Lane-Fournier, 61. He faces a second-degree murder accusation and is being held in a county jail without the possibility of bail.
The body of “Phoenix” Lane-Fournier was discovered on Friday in the isolated wilderness of Welches, an unincorporated town east of Portland at the base of Mount Hood. Saturday’s autopsy determined that homicide was the cause of death.
Only after more than 800 hours of searching over more than 100 miles of path with dozens of officers, K9s, and volunteers was the discovery made. Additionally, according to the sheriff’s office, her two Malinois-mix dogs were discovered dead separately.
On November 22, Lane-Fournier was originally reported missing after she did not arrive for work at a nearby store. A member of the public saw her white 1992 Ford F-250 parked close to East Salmon River Road the following day.
“Investigators are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen Michel Fournier in the days before her disappearance or who has information about his activity and whereabouts since then,” said the sheriff’s office.
Fournier-Lane had filed for divorce, claiming irreconcilable differences, a month prior to her disappearance. She identified herself as Susan Lane in court documents obtained by Portland’s NBC station KGW8.
According to KGW8, locals expressed their shock over her alleged murder, and some have come to pray for her at her workplace, a store that sells exotic imported things.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!