Quebec parents want son's mysterious death in Punta Cana investigated fully
A Quebec couple is trying to get answers following the mysterious death of their 24-year-old son two months ago in the Dominican Republic.
William Gareau fell to his death at a resort in Punta Cana, and the boy's parents say local authorities aren't cooperating.
The young man, his girlfriend and some of her relatives were vacationing in the Bahia Principe Grand Luxury Ambar all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, and on Jan. 15, his parents received a panicked call from his girlfriend.
"We got the call that no parents ever want to receive at two o clock at night," said William's mother Sylvie Marcotte.
The couple was told that their son fell off the third-floor balcony and was critically injured. His mother jumped on the next flight to Santo Domingo, but it was too late.
"I wanted to see him," she said. "I wanted to touch him, see him, and maybe talk to him."
The grieving parents then discovered their son's behaviour was bizarre before he fell and that he was in distress.
"He was not there, he was hallucinating, so he called for help," said Marcotte
His mother said hotel security picked him up and dropped him in his room rather than calling an ambulance or a doctor. His parents suspect he was drugged and that he may not have been the only one. They say his girlfriend's younger brother had the same symptoms.
"The younger brother came in his parent's room and was like absolutely not making sense," said Marcotte.
The medical examiner did call for an autopsy and a toxicology report, but the parents can't access the results.
Police never questioned the other alleged victim or anyone else that night.
The family hired a lawyer to help them find answers.
"We have a young man that died after suspicious circumstances that could be enlightened by local authorites," said lawyer Conrad Lord. "It's complicated. It should be easier because Canadians are there on a daily basis."
The Canadian government issued a travel alert for tourists travelling to the Dominican Republic, specifically saying that tourists should be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from strangers.
The family lawyer says travel agencies and airlines should also play a role in warning travellers.
"I don't think there's enough information out there to enable people to clearly understand the risk factors," said Lord.
The young man's family said they've heard of others who were also intoxicated against their will in popular resorts, which is why they promise to keep pushing for a full investigation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.