Firemen work at the scene of a garage fire early Tuesday July 10, 2012. Three bodies have been found inside a burning garage in Warwick, about two hours northeast of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Francois Arel
July 10, 2012 - 12:53 PM
WARWICK, Que. - Three bodies found inside a burning garage in a small community northeast of Montreal have police looking into a possible murder-suicide.
The identities of the victims have not been made public by Quebec provincial police, who said Tuesday autopsies are needed to officially identify the remains and determine the cause of death.
A family of three lived at the home in Warwick, about two hours from Montreal. The occupants of the home were a 47-year-old man, his 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. He had full custody of the children.
In the hours leading up to the blaze, the owner of the home published a lengthy diatribe on his Facebook page denouncing a court decision allowing his ex-wife to have partial custody of the children.
However, the lawyer representing the ex-wife in the case said no decision had been made in the case. He said the couple were to appear in court on Tuesday to discuss custody and alimony issues.
In his letter, the man said fathers must take justice into their own hands because they can't get it from the court.
The letter was posted early Tuesday on Facebook, not long before police received a call at 3 a.m. for a house fire.
A detached garage beside the home was engulfed in flames when emergency personnel arrived, said Sgt. Ronald McInnis, a provincial police spokesman.
Traces of accelerants were found in the garage and the doors to the building were blocked by a car parked in front.
"After the firemen finished their work they found three bodies inside (the garage)," he said.
"We're talking about one adult and...possibly two children."
McInnis said autopsies could take several days.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012