U.S. chocolate mogul charged with murdering animator, partner

An American chocolate mogul has been charged with the murders of a millionaire Canadian entrepreneur and his partner, who were attacked by a hitman on an idyllic Caribbean island.

Jonathan Lehrer, the owner Bois Cotlette Inc., appeared relaxed during his court appearance in Dominica on Wednesday, the Toronto Star reported. At one point, he even smiled and waved at his alleged accomplice, Robert Snider Jr., a Dominica resident originally from Florida. He’s also facing a charge in connection with the deaths of Daniel Langlois and his partner, Dominique Marchand.

Authorities discovered their bodies on Friday inside a burnt-out car near the tropical getaway they managed together, called Coulibri Ridge Eco Resort. Police sources told the Telegraph each of the victims were shot before their vehicle veered off the road and burst into flames.

The couple was reported missing days earlier and police believe they were killed sometime between Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.

The deadly violence comes amid a years-long feud between Lehrer and Langlois, who founded the animation firm Softimage, responsible for CGI in beloved movies like “Jurassic Park.” In 1994, he sold the business to Microsoft for $200 million before eventually moving to Dominica, where he and Marchand spent decades planning and developing their luxury resort.

Lehrer, originally from New Jersey, owns the 53-acre chocolate and coffee plantation next to Coulibri Ridge. In 2018, Langlois took the chocolate businessman to court over a dispute regarding a public road that cuts through Bois Cotlette’s 300-acre estate. Leher allegedly blocked off parts of the road with boulders, equipment and trenches, triggering the legal action from Langlois, who cited damages and interference in his economic interests, Dominica News Online reported.

In 2019, a court affirmed the road’s public status, granting Langlois’ guests unrestricted access.

Earlier this year, Langlois was granted a Meritorious Service Award for his contribution to Dominica’s sustainable development. His death and that of his partner’s shocked their community, who remembered them as local icons and activists.

“After Hurricane Maria in 2017, he played a crucial role in rehabilitating the Soufriere Primary School with an investment of over EC$1 million,” Ericson Degallaire, the principal of Soufriere Primary School told the star.

“The quality of work was exceptional, and the school’s solarization ensured uninterrupted electricity, a testament to his dedication,” she added.

Both Lehrer and Snider were remanded into custody at the Dominica State Prison. They are expected to reappear in court on March 15, 2024.