US chocolate maker and his wife are arrested in Dominica after millionaire Oscar-winning 3D animator and his partner were ‘ambushed by hitman’ and their bodies found in a burned car amid row about an access road
An American chocolate maker and his wife have been arrested in Dominica after the millionaire Oscar-winning 3D animator and his partner were allegedly ambushed by a hitman and their bodies were found in a burnt-out car.
Daniel Langlois, 66, and Dominique Marchand, both from Quebec, were found dead in a charred car outside the eco-resort they owned in Dominica on Friday.
Langlois is known as the founder of Softimage, which created 3D animation software for films such as Jurassic Park, Men in Black and Star Wars.
The couple’s neighbors, Jonathan Lehrer, 57, and his wife, who own and operate chocolate maker Bois Collette Inc, have been questioned by police.
Langlois and Marchand, who ran the Coulibri Ridge resort, were ambushed by a hitman who killed them and then set their car on fire, Dominica police said.
Langlois and Lehrer were involved in a dispute over the use of the Morne Rouge public road, which runs through the chocolatier’s estate.
Daniel Langlois (left) and Dominique Marchand (right) from Quebec were found dead in a charred car near the eco-resort they owned in Dominica.
Neighbors of the couple Jonathan Lehrer (pictured) and his wife, who own and operate chocolate maker Bois Collette Inc, are being questioned by police.
Dominica police said a massive fire in the car made it impossible to identify the bodies.
In a statement on national radio, Dominica National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore said: “Four suspects, three foreigners and one Dominican national, are in police custody.
“This type of horrific and brutal crime cannot be ignored and we cannot allow those responsible to go unpunished.
“The government will provide investigators with everything they need to solve this crime.”
Langlois and Lehrer were involved in a dispute over the use of the Morne Rouge public road, which runs through the chocolatier’s estate.
The battle reached the state’s highest court, which ruled in 2019 that the road is public and can be freely used by visitors to Langlois.
DailyMail.com has contacted Dominica Police for comment on this story.
In 2019 court documents seen by DailyMail.com, Langlois accused Lehrer of obstructing the smooth and free use of public roads for at least four years.
At one point, Lehrer reportedly “blocked the road with boulders across the road, dug a trench across said road, installed metal pipes and placed equipment and materials on the road, denying the applicants and their employees access to their property.”
A local report from 2018 said a protest was staged on the road after a “landowner from Bois Catlett” blocked it.
Dominica News Online reports: “The residents, most of whom are employees of Petite Coulibri, were unable to get to work safely and decided to protest the landowner’s actions.”
The Daniel Langlois Foundation confirmed on Monday that Langlois and Marchard died “under tragic circumstances.”
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmore said: “Not only do crimes like this damage international relations, but this crime in particular has sent shockwaves across the island and left the staff, families and communities of the victims in mourning.”
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the deaths of two Canadian citizens on the island but did not name them.
“Canadian officials continue to closely monitor the situation, liaise with local authorities and provide consular assistance. Due to confidentiality reasons, additional information cannot be disclosed,” the department said.
Dominica police said a massive fire in the car has made it impossible to identify the bodies and they are relying on “circumstantial evidence to link them to the missing couple.”
This photo from 2019 shows a protest on the disputed road between two estates.
Dominica resident Jacqueline Dupiny told DailyMail.com the Canadian couple was loved on the island and would be greatly missed.
She said: “The nicest foreigners to set foot on this island. They were exemplary stewards of the land around them and treated their employees with great respect.”
In 1994, the entrepreneur sold his software company to Microsoft for $200 million and founded the Daniel Langlois Foundation for Art, Science and Technology.
In 1997, he received a scientific and technical Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In October 2022, he and Marchand opened Coulibri Ridge, a luxury stand-alone resort on 200 acres of land on an island located between Guadeloupe and Martinique.
They reportedly worked on the project for 20 years.
Langlois was loved in Canada and Dominica and was honored by many on social media following reports of his death.
Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascal Saint-Onge wrote: “Daniel Langlois, digital and film visionary, has left us. His legacy reflects his pioneering spirit. My thoughts are with his loved ones.”
The Quebec natives are dedicated to their sustainable project in Dominica.
Travel writer Jim Byers wrote on X: “Shocked and devastated to learn of the death of Canadian businessman and visionary Daniel Langlois and his wife Dominique Marchand. They built the incredible Coulibri Ridge Resort in Dominica and invited me for a tour and lunch in January. So sad.’
And fan Paul Chato added: “Daniel Langlois has been found dead. For those 3D animators, Langlois pioneered SoftImage 3D, the most advanced character animation software of its time. With its help, a reboot was made, like the dinosaur in Jurassic Park. Sad.’
On November 3, the Dominica government presented Langlois with a “Community Service Award for his contributions to sustainable development and research projects,” as reported by Dominica News Online.
Langlois was a dual citizen of Canada and the Dominican Republic.
In an interview with the Journal de Montreal (JDM), chocolate magnate Lehrer’s father Robert rejected the suggestion that his son could be responsible.
“Jonathan is a successful businessman, not a murderer. We are very close and he is not a violent person at all. I find it hard to believe,” he said.
Dominica police said a massive fire in the car has made it impossible to identify the bodies and they are relying on “circumstantial evidence to link them to the missing couple.”
The Calgary Sun reported that the Lehrers, a foreign national and a local resident were detained by police in connection with the death.
A US State Department spokesman told the BBC: “We are aware of reports of the arrest of a US citizen in Dominica.
“Due to privacy concerns, we have no further comment at this time.”
In October 2022, the couple opened Coulibri Ridge, a luxury stand-alone resort on 200 acres of land on the island.
Langlois and Lehrer were involved in a dispute over the use of the Morne Rouge public road, which runs through the chocolatier’s estate.
The battle reached the state’s highest court, which ruled in 2019 that the road is public and can be freely used by visitors to Langlois.
Robert also told JDM: “He was fed up with illegal crossings on his route and it was really bothering him, but I haven’t had any news for a long time.”
In 2019 court documents seen by DailyMail.com, Langlois accused Lehrer of interfering with the smooth and free use of public roads for at least four years.
At one point, Lehrer reportedly “blocked the road by placing boulders across the road, digging a trench across said road, installing metal pipes and placing equipment and materials on the road, denying the applicants and their employees access to their property.”
A local report from 2018 said a protest was staged on the road after a “landowner from Bois Catlett” blocked it.
Dominica News Online reports: “The residents, most of whom are employees of Petite Coulibri, were unable to get to work safely and decided to protest the landowner’s actions.”
The Daniel Langlois Foundation said in a statement Monday that the couple “died in tragic circumstances” on December 1.
The statement added: “In the coming weeks and months, details of the exact circumstances of their deaths will be revealed as Dominican police and the justice system begin their investigation.”
The foundation said that “Mr. Langlois’s stellar career has had a profound impact on modern cinema.”
Langlois and Marchand played an important role in the community, according to Soufrière village politician Denise Charles-Pemberton, who told state radio: “The last few days have been incredibly difficult for our constituency.
“Losing two members of our community who were at the center of its development and its sense of spirit and togetherness is something we have struggled to put into words.
“Daniel and Dominic may be known for their world-famous eco-resort in the countryside, but to the people of Soufriere Parish and to me, they were kind, loving and truly community-minded.”
On November 3, the Dominica government presented Langlois with a “Community Service Award for his contributions to sustainable development and research projects,” as reported by Dominica News Online.
DailyMail.com has contacted Dominica Police for further comment on the case.