Laurent Robillard-Cardinal
Laurent Robillard-Cardinal
AYLMER – After receiving a 9-1-1 call, January 6 at 12:50 pm, Gatineau Police headed to 158 Terrasse Eardley Street where they found the inanimate bodies of Amanda Trottier from Aylmer and her boyfriend Travis Votour from Maniwaki. Travis had attended Pontiac High School in Shawville in the past. “Their deaths were later confirmed at the Hull Hospital,” said Gatineau Police spokesperson, Pierre Lanthier, during a press conference in front of the home. “We are analyzing the crime scene.” Police established a command post beside the home where the couple, both aged 23 and dating for about two years, had been living for almost a year.
Although unconfirmed by police, family members said Amanda’s three-year-old daughter, Savannah, was inside the house when the crime took place. They also told the media that the little girl is aware her mother is dead. It was Amanda’s father who made the discovery when he stopped by the house to check on his daughter after not hearing from her that morning. Amanda and her mother, Victoria Lebrasseur, typically communicated every morning, but on the morning of January 6, Amanda did not reply.
Also hypothetical is that the suspected double murder was a settling of accounts. Certain family members said the deaths were drug-related. “We are not ruling anything out at this point,” said Lanthier. Travis Votour had a criminal past and was known by police who arrested him for simple drug possession and assault on an officer. His arrests date back to 2010, 2011 and the most recent, in March 2013.
Police did confirm that an autopsy is being conducted on the victims in Montreal and that they have spoken with neighbours and members from the shaken up families. “We are still considering this event as two suspicious deaths,” said Lanthier, who reminds residents that the crime hotline 819-243-2346 extension 6677 will remain active during the investigation. “Information will be confidential and messages can be left anonymously.”
