The man suspected of committing two bloody murders in an apartment building in Vaudreuil-Dorion on Thursday appeared in court last week to answer charges of attacking a woman he met on the street .
• Also read: Two of three victims in Vaudreuil-Dorion are dead
According to our sources, the suspect is Fabio Puglisi, a person known to the police with mental health problems. He has been found not criminally responsible twice in the past due to his condition.
Fabio Puglisi, 44, is the suspect in the double murder that occurred on Thursday morning in a residence on Rue Émile-Bouchard in Vaudreuil-Dorion. PHOTO from FACEBOOK, Fabio Puglisi
An SQ forensic identification technician is interested in a piece of evidence found outside the condominium building where the tragedy occurred. MAXIME DELAND/AGENCE QMI
Shortly before noon, rescue workers were called to the sixth floor of an apartment building on Rue Émile-Bouchard. When they arrived, they discovered the bodies of two women. One of them had injuries so severe that it was difficult to identify her. They were allegedly stabbed. Another 70-year-old woman was also attacked and remains in hospital in critical condition.
The building where the drama took place was built in 2020 and contains 56 rental condominiums. PHOTO MAXIME DELAND / AGENCE QMI
According to our information, one of the victims is the suspect's mother, with whom he lived in one of the apartments. The other two would be neighbors.
Since before the holidays
Puglisi, who had minor injuries, was arrested at the scene.
“I heard noises in the hallway. “Keep your hands on the ground, keep your hands on the ground.” Suddenly I saw a lot of police cars arrive, four ambulances and first responders. “It's crazy, it's like a real suspense movie,” explained a neighbor who preferred not to give her name.
The forty-year-old was taken to a hospital and was to be questioned by investigators about crimes against the person.
At least two transports to the hospital were necessary, including for the suspect, who suffered minor injuries. PHOTO MAXIME DELAND / AGENCE QMI
“This is a gentleman who had problems just before the holidays. I was told that he [souffrait de problèmes de santé mentale] and that he had not taken his medication. Since then, the world was afraid of him; there were some who didn't even want to go into the elevator with him.
According to sources close to Puglisi, he was hospitalized in November but was quickly released from the hospital because staff believed he posed no threat. His health worried his family members, but his mother wanted to stay by his side.
Purely unknown
On November 16, Puglisi allegedly unprovoked attacked a woman who was outside her apartment building, which was about 500 meters from the apartment tower where Thursday's murders took place.
“We didn’t know this guy, we’d never seen him before,” the woman’s husband confided. Puglisi was formally charged in the case last Friday. He was scheduled to return to court on March 26 for further proceedings.
Fake Riopelle
This is not the suspect's first experience with the justice system. In 2018, he was charged with fraud after selling a fake Riopelle on Kijiji. Then, in 2012, he was charged with assault, dangerous driving and hit-and-run.
In both cases he was found not guilty of criminal charges.
At his last hearing before the Mental Disorders Review Commission (CETM) in 2020, it was determined that “due to his mental state, the defendant no longer poses a significant risk to the safety of the public.” He was then released unconditionally.
His condition appeared stable, largely thanks to the family support he received. Puglisi was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and manic syndrome with psychotic features. His condition often causes him to hallucinate and makes him paranoid, a psychiatrist told the commission.
– With Michaël Nguyen, Camille Payant and Erika Aubin
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.