A tragic murder in Longueuil has left the family of Patrick Synnott devastated and questioning law enforcement’s actions. Synnott, who feared his neighbor Guy Durocher—charged with second-degree murder—had expressed concerns about Durocher’s deteriorating mental health. Despite multiple police interactions regarding Durocher’s alarming behavior, the family felt their warnings were ignored. They are now advocating for an independent investigation into the police’s handling of the situation, highlighting the need for better mental health crisis recognition and intervention.
Family’s Heartbreak Following Tragic Murder in Longueuil
This week, a tragic murder in Longueuil has left a family grappling with loss and unanswered questions. The victim, Patrick Synnott, reportedly had a deep-seated fear of his neighbor, Guy Durocher, who has been charged with second-degree murder. Synnott’s family claims that authorities overlooked crucial signs of Durocher’s potential mental health issues.
Lyne St-Louis, Synnott’s former partner, shared the painful moment when their daughter Amélie learned of her father’s death. “The first question she asked was: ‘Why wasn’t he arrested before?’ It was an avoidable tragedy,” she expressed, highlighting the family’s feelings of helplessness and frustration.
Signs of Disturbance Ignored
Patrick Synnott, 56, was tragically killed last Thursday. According to St-Louis, the relationship between Synnott and Durocher had soured over a minor disagreement, coinciding with Durocher’s apparent decline in mental health over the past year. “Durocher began isolating himself and exhibiting erratic behavior, such as talking to himself and making alarming threats,” St-Louis recounted.
These alarming incidents escalated Synnott’s anxiety. “He began locking his doors every night, a precaution he had never taken before. He even replaced the locks because Guy had a set of keys,” St-Louis added. The couple had made the difficult decision to limit their daughter Amélie’s visits to her father due to these fears.
In a shocking incident, Durocher even appeared at St-Louis’s home unannounced, leading to distressing confrontations. “He was rocking in the swing in the yard, insisting that Lyne was his wife and I had no right to be there,” said Bernard Fradette, St-Louis’s current partner.
Despite numerous calls to the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) regarding Durocher’s concerning behavior, family members felt their pleas went unanswered. “Every time the police arrived, they assured us he wasn’t a threat and could not take action. It was clear he needed monitoring,” St-Louis lamented. Just the day before the murder, Durocher had allegedly vandalized the tires of several neighbors, including Synnott, leading to only a minor charge of mischief.
The family is now calling for an independent investigation into the SPAL’s previous interventions, demanding accountability. “While I understand that police cannot diagnose mental illness, they should recognize when someone is in crisis. We just wanted him to receive help,” stressed St-Louis.
François Boucher, a spokesperson for the SPAL, confirmed that there had been multiple police interactions with Durocher over the past year. He assured the public that the department would review these interventions to assess whether appropriate measures were taken in response to the situation.