The family of two young children allegedly murdered by their father received condolences at a visitation Sunday afternoon.
The visitation for Olivier Turcotte, 5, and his three-year-old sister Anne-Sophie, was open to the public.
Grim discovery
The young siblings were found dead last Saturday, at a chalet in Piedmont, north of Montreal.
Their father, cardiologist Dr. Guy Turcotte, had been renting the home in the Laurentians since January. He shared custody of the children with his estranged wife, Isabelle Gaston - who is also a doctor.
A concerned family member, who began to worry when Turcotte didn't show up at a scheduled event, contacted local police.
When police entered the home, they discovered the bodies of the children, and found Turcotte unconscious. Apparently in distress over his failed marriage, Turcotte overdosed on medication, and had to be rushed to hospital.
Murder charges
On Tuesday, Dr. Turcotte was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, even though he was unable to appear in court. He was arraigned while in hospital, recovering from his medication overdose.
Mother expresses grief
In an obituary published in the Journal de Montreal on Thursday, the mother of Olivier and Anne-Sophie wrote that she was "lucky to have been chosen as your mother because you were exceptional."
"I love you and I'm suffering because you're gone," wrote Gaston.
"Your lives have been stolen and your time with me was too short," she continued. "I wonder why things like this happen."
With files from The Canadian Press
