Laurentians community grieves ‘senseless killing’ of girl
A youth centre in the Laurentians turned into a place to gather and grieve Thursday as local teens struggled to cope with the “senseless killing” of one of their own.
With schools closed because of a snowstorm, the centre in Lachute, northwest of Montreal, opened earlier than usual and stayed open later to give the town’s youth a place to come together. Additional outreach workers were on hand to listen and try to answer any questions they had.
“We’re like a family here, so we wanted to be there to support them and to support us, too,” said director Julie Desrosiers. “No one understands what happened.”
Océane Boyer, 13, was found dead by the side of an isolated road in neighbouring Brownsburg-chatham Wednesday morning.
She was reportedly shot in the head and found partly unclothed, but police would not confirm the details.
Police arrested a 51-year-old man in Montreal on Thursday in connection with the killing. The man, who knew the victim, is expected to be arraigned in court on Friday. Police said it was too early to confirm what charges he could face.
The arrest came after a frantic 24 hours or so in the small town northwest of Montreal.
A passerby had discovered the teen’s body by the road around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday. Her parents last saw her around 8 a.m. that morning when she left for school. The school being just across the street from the family’s home, they reported her missing when she hadn’t returned by afternoon.
“When a police officer went to see the family, we were able to rapidly link the two events,” explained Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Marc Tessier.
Before Thursday’s arrest, police had canvassed any routes between Lachute and Brownsburg-chatham with canine units, searching for any clues between Océane’s home and where her body was found. The two locations are about 22 kilometres apart.
A man standing outside the family’s home on Thursday asked for privacy as they grieved. The parents spoke to the TVA television network earlier in the morning.
Océane’s mother, Caroline Sarrasin, said her daughter left for school as usual on Wednesday morning. She described her as a good kid who didn’t have any issues with anyone.
“Our kids were always with us. We never let them walk alone,” added the teen’s father, Francis Boyer. “This was a senseless killing.”
Océane was known to often spend time at the youth centre. She had participated in a grocery bagging fundraiser only days earlier.
In a Facebook post, the centre spoke of her zest for life and stories that always lifted everyone’s mood.
“You were a wonderful and magnificent young woman,” the centre wrote. “We are privileged to have been able to live such beautiful moments with you.”
Premier François Legault Thursday offered condolences to the girl’s family.
“What a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the parents, family and friends of young Océane.”
Speaking from his office on Thursday, Lachute Mayor Carl Péloquin said the town will do everything it can to ensure the family and local teens receive the support they need in coming weeks.
The news of Océane’s killing shocked the tight-knit community, he said.
“There’s no explaining it,” he said. “It’s hard to understand why we have to deal with something like this.”
The mayor said social services will be available at the town’s high school when it reopens on Friday and will remain there for as long as needed. The town will also keep in touch with the family through local health services to help them in any way necessary.
The killing of a young child would be hard for any town to cope with, Péloquin said, but it is especially difficult in a small community where everyone either knew the victim or her family.
His own son went to school with Océane last year, he added.
“The youngsters don’t understand,” he said.
You were a wonderful and magnificent young woman. We are privileged to have been able to live such beautiful moments with you.