Dominica: Accused in alleged homicide of hoteliers still in remand

The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has issued a statement regarding a search that took place at the Bois Colette property over the weekend in which murder accused Johnathan Lehrer was present under police escort and then returned to prison where he remains on remand. 

American chocolate maker Johnathan Lehrer, 57, the owner of Bois Colette, was charged last week along with American national Robert Snyder for the double murders of Canadian-born hoteliers, Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand.  

The police in an update today said on Friday, December 1, 2023, Johnathan Lehrer of Bois Cotlette, Soufriere was arrested on suspicion of the alleged homicide of Dominique Marchand and Daniel Langlois, which occurred at Gallion.  

A search was conducted at the home of Johnathan Lehrer on that same day. Lehrer was subsequently charged on two counts of murder and taken before a Roseau Magistrate on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, when the charges were read to him.  

Lehrer was not required to enter a plea as the matter is an indictable offence and he was remanded at the Dominica State’s Prison.  

The matter is scheduled for hearing on March 15, 2024. Dominica police say investigators applied for an “order to bring up prisoner” which was granted by the court.  

On Saturday, December 9, 2023, Johnathan Lehrer was removed from the Dominica State Prison on the strength of the order and transported to his property at Bois Cotlette under police escort. A joint search was conducted on the property by personnel from the Customs and Excise Division and the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force with the help of a canine unit.  

At the conclusion of the search, Lehrer was returned to the Dominica State Prison where he remains on remand. Investigations by the Customs and Excise Division and the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force are ongoing. 

The deceased in this matter Langlois and Marchand, owned and operated the Coulibri Ridge Resort. Their charred bodies were found in a vehicle in the town of Gallion on December 1.  

Langlois, 66, an animation pioneer and philanthropist, is the founder of SOFTIMAGE, the Daniel Langlois Foundation and Coulibri Ridge Resort.

SOFTIMAGE software was used to create 3D effects in many blockbuster movies including Jurassic Park, Titanic, Men in Black, The Matrix, The fifth Element, Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, just to name a few.