Dominicans shocked by suspicious deaths

Dominica’s picturesque village of Soufriere has been rocked by the suspicious death of two dearly loved local entrepreneurs.  

Two Americans have been charged with the murder of a Canadian businessman and his partner. Jonathan Lehrer and Robert Snider were both charged at a hearing earlier this month before Dominica’s chief magistrate.

Police believe the two were involved in the suspicious deaths of Daniel Langlois and Dominique Merchand, whose bodies were discovered in a burnt-out vehicle two weeks ago.

Both are in custody pending a trial.

Police discovered the bodies in the Soufriere area, after they had been reported missing.

Langlois, who founded an animation software firm called Softimage that has been used in blockbuster films, was originally from Quebec and had lived with his partner in Dominica since 1997.

After their bodies were discovered, police said they detained three foreign nationals and one Dominican.

A few days later, officials charged Lehrer and Snider, who was described in reports as Lehrer’s “accomplice”, with the murder of the couple.

Lehrer, a chocolate maker who is originally from New Jersey, owned a 53-acre property next to a 200-acre luxury, off-the-grid eco-resort that was owned by the couple. The couple owned the eco-resort Coulibri Ridge, located on the Bois Cotlette Estate, one of the oldest plantations in Dominica.

Lehrer had for years been in a dispute with the couple over the use of a public road that intersected with his property, which he had allegedly blocked by placing boulders on it and digging a trench, according to court documents.

Langlois then filed legal action against Lehrer, claiming his actions had hampered the smooth running of his resort and reduced his livelihood. He sought a permanent injunction against Lehrer so that the road could be opened up.

In 2019, a High Court judge mandated that Lehrer open up the road to public use, and that he grant guests of Langlois’ unrestricted access.

The ruling, penned by Judge Bernie Stephenson, noted that both men are prominent businessmen whose projects are beneficial not only to them, but their employees, the village and its surrounding areas. Locals claimed that Lehrer used intimidating tactics to deter people from using the road.