Montreal police are investigating two suspected femicides in the span of 48 hours.
Both cases bear striking similarities: in each incident, a woman in her early 40s was found with serious injuries in an apartment in Saint-Michel and a male suspect was found at the scene before being taken to hospital with serious injuries.
In the latest case, on Monday afternoon, Montreal police were called to an apartment on 39e Street, near the intersection of Paul-Corbeil Street, at 2:25 p.m. to respond to a report of an injured person.
When officers arrived, they found a 41-year-old woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 35-year-old man was found at the scene, and both individuals had injuries caused by a “sharp object,” police said. The man, who is considered to be a suspect in the woman’s death, remains in hospital in a coma, police said on Tuesday morning.
Later Tuesday afternoon, a police spokesperson said investigators have determined that the woman was killed “in the context of intimate partner violence.”
No charges have been laid in the case, and police have not released the identities of the victim or suspect. The woman’s killing was the 16th homicide of the year in Montreal and the 13th suspected femicide in Quebec this year.
Woman found dead after wellness check
Her death comes after another woman was found dead in an apartment over the weekend. In that case, police were called to an address on 9e Avenue, near Crémazie Blvd. E., at 1:45 p.m. for a wellness check Saturday afternoon.
When officers arrived, they found the 44-year-old woman’s body, which had signs of violence. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 51-year-old man with serious upper-body injuries was sent to hospital in critical condition. He was supposed to appear in court on Monday but it was postponed due to his condition in hospital, according to police.
In that case, Montreal police confirmed that the victim and suspect were in an intimate partner relationship, marking the 12th suspected femicide in Quebec since the beginning of the year. It was also the 15th homicide in Montreal in 2026.
Suspected femicides in Quebec this year:
Jan. 1: Tadjan’ah Désir, 31, was allegedly pushed from a third-floor balcony on New Year’s Day in Montreal and died a few days later. James Theramene has been charged with manslaughter in the case.
Jan. 5: Mary Iqiquq Tukalak, 54, was killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Nunavik.
Jan. 13: The body of Susana Rocha Cruz, 44, was found in the St. Lawrence River in the Quebec City area after she was reported missing on Jan. 7. Abraham Bonzalez Leon, 43, was charged with second-degree murder in her death.
Jan. 18: Veronic Champagne, 40, was killed after sustaining serious injuries on Jan. 18 in Rougemont, Que. Her apartment was also set on fire. David Guertin, 41, was arrested at the scene after a stand-off caught on camera by neighbours. He was later charged with second-degree murder.
Jan 26: Marie-Kate Ottawa, 39, was found dead in her home in Manawan, a First Nations community about 250 kilometres north of Montreal. The body of her ex-partner was also found inside. He was suspected of killing Ottawa before taking his own life.
Feb. 2: Sonia Maricela Gonzalez Vasquez, 54, was found dead in her home in Brossard. The body of her husband, Marcos Amilcar Diaz Lopez, 56, was also found inside. Police described the tragedy as a femicide followed by a suicide.
Feb. 27: Danielle Lascelles, 67, was found dead in her home in St-Jerome, Que., after police received a 911 call. Her partner, Patrick Clavel, 50, has been charged with second-degree murder.
March 31: Katerine Alejandra Mejia Salinas, 18, died after allegedly being strangled by her partner in a Montreal apartment. Heberth Gudiel Martinez Ramirez, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder.
April 15: Hiba Elrhazi, 25, was shot dead in a condo in Ville-Marie, according to police. Her partner, Alexandre Karim Amau Restau, 27, is facing one count of manslaughter.
May 6: A 30-year-old woman was killed by her 34-year-old intimate partner, who then died by suicide. Their bodies were found in an apartment in Gatineau, Que.
June 22: Sushmita Bhaskaran, 51, died after her body was found in a forest in Lévis, Que. A 61-year-old man was later arrested.
Aug. 15: Leakkhena Seng, 44, was fatally stabbed in an apartment in Montreal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood. Police say a man, who also suffered stab wounds, was taken to hospital and is considered a suspect. The man was Seng’s intimate partner, police say.
Aug. 17: The body of a 41-year-old woman was found in an apartment in Saint-Michel. A 35-year-old male suspect was found seriously injured and taken to hospital, where he remains in a coma.
Support network
Victims of domestic violence can contact SOS violence conjugale at 1-800-363-9010.
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