DIDN'T DROP OFF SON
Last week, Fortin didn't drop off her son at the
daycare run by Maria des Lourdes Gonzalez. The
daycare is just up the street from Fortin's home.
"I thought she was sick," said Gonzalez of the
boy not showing up nine days ago to the daycare.
On Monday, she found it strange that Fortin
hadn't been in touch with her.
Gonzalez knocked on Fortin's door yesterday but
no one answered. It didn't appear that anything was
wrong at the residence but she contacted Fortin's
friend who called police.
Gonzalez also noted the buildup of mail in the
black mailbox, which was still filled last night as
two bodies were wheeled out of the house at around
7:30 p.m.
"Martine is a marvellous person," Gonzalez said
last night.
Gonzalez said Fortin has separated from the boy's
father, Robi Fornier.
She said Fortin has been working for a children's
agency in Gatineau.
"She's an excellent mom," Gonzalez said, adding
that the father is also a loving parent.
Gonzalez described Mathis as a "very intelligent"
boy with curly hair.
The bodies showed no obvious signs of violence
and police found no evidence of forced entry or a
struggle in the house, said Gatineau Police Lieut.
Pierre Parent.
"Everything looks normal," said Parent of the
interior of the house where the bodies were found.
There were people renting an apartment in the
basement of the home, neighbours said.
Few neighbours knew Fortin, but said they would
see her with her son walking along the street.
"I saw her about 10 days ago," said Gilbert
Lefebvre. "We talked about the amount of snow we've
been getting." He estimated she was 35 years old.
Lefebvre, who has lived on the street for 40
years, said something like this has never happened
in what he described as a quiet residential area.
"We're in shock. You always think this happens in
other countries."
There was a male tenant living in the downstairs
apartment, he said.
COVERED IN SNOW
Jim Dorion, a neighbour across the street, said
he noticed Fortin's silver Volkswagen Jetta was
still parked in the driveway, covered in snow and
had not moved since Monday or Tuesday.
"We never saw anything suspicious though," he
said.
As police took the bodies out of the house,
another man wearing a football jacket walked down
the driveway, got into his car and drove away.
"No interviews," he said in French before leaving
in his car.
Investigators remained at the scene late
yesterday night.