In Saint-Apollinaire, discovery of body believed to be that of Martin Carpentier brings relief

Provincial police are still waiting for autopsy results to confirm whether a body they found behind a garage Monday evening is that of Martin Carpentier, who had been sought in connection with the deaths of his two daughters. 

On Twitter Monday night, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said that "everything suggests" the body is Carpentier's. 

Police said they located a body in the Saint-Apollinaire area, about 30 kilometres southwest of Quebec City, at 7 p.m., after receiving a tip from a citizen. 

"According to initial findings, he took his own life," the SQ said. 

Carpentier had been missing since July 8, when he was last seen with his daughters, six-year-old Romy and 11-year-old Norah. 

The bodies of the two girls were found three days later in a densely forested area near Saint-Apollinaire.  

The body believed to be Carpentier's was located just five kilometres from where the girls were found. 

The SQ is expected to reveal more details in a news conference later this week. 

In the Saint-Apollinaire area Tuesday morning, many residents seemed relieved. 

Manon Drolet, co-owner of a nearby campground, said the community could now rest easy. 

"We didn't know what state Martin Carpentier was in," said Drolet. 

"It's a quiet area here, with no problems and no worries. When this happened, everyone was worried." 

Questions without answers

That same feeling was expressed by many of Saint-Apollinaire's 7,000 residents. 

The police had asked them to be on the lookout for Carpentier and to keep their sheds and vehicles locked during the nearly two weeks officers searched for the suspect. 

Carmel Martineau, who lives close to where the body was found, says throughout that time, he searched his property and farm buildings daily.

He was surprised to learn a body believed to be the missing father was found less than a kilometre down the road from his home.

Martineau says police stopped by today to check in and let him know psychological help is available, giving him a number to call if need be. But he says the community is close knit and will get through it together. 

"There are still a lot of questions without answers," he said. 

"I think 2020 will be remembered for two things — COVID and this tragedy in Saint-Apollinaire." 

Jiamei Croteau, who also lives nearby, says she normally lets her four-year-old daughter play outside, but once the search started she never let her out of sight.

"It's been stressful," she said. "We double-locked our doors."

She has mixed feelings about the discovery of a body behind a home on her street. 

"It's sad, but I also feel relieved." 

"For almost two weeks, we were not sleeping," her husband Marc Croteau said.

The SQ had only just called off their ground search in the area Sunday. 

"This will reassure the citizens, that's for sure," Saint-Apollinaire Mayor Bernard Ouellet told Radio-Canada moments after the body was found.

He said that, even though officers will likely stay in the area for days to come as they wrap up their investigation, the sense of danger has now passed.