by Brian Major
Last updated: 11:45 AM ET, Fri December 8, 2023
Two American-born, Dominica residents were arrested Wednesday
and remanded to the custody of Dominica State Prison on murder charges in the deaths of Coulibri Ridge resort owners Daniel Langlois and
Dominique Marchand.
Police charged Jonathan Scott Lehrer and Robert Snider Jr.
with killing Langlois and Marchand between November 29 and December 2, 2023, near
Bois Cotlette, a 53-acre property in Soufriere owned by Lehrer.
Lehrer and Snider are scheduled to return to court on March
15, 2024, for the start of the preliminary inquiry into the deaths.
Police found the charred remains of two people in a vehicle in Soufriere at 7:00 a.m. on November 29. The bodies were too badly consumed by the blaze to be immediately identified but are believed to be Langlois and Marchand, who had earlier been reported missing.
Police initially arrested Lehrer, his wife, Snider and a
Dominican man, according to a Dominica Online News report. However, only Lehrer
and Snider Jr. were charged following an investigation.
Langlois and Lehrer had been engaged in a long-running dispute concerning the usage of the Morne Rouge Public Road, which passes through Bois Cotlette.
Lehrer had previously obstructed the road with boulders, a
trench and other equipment, impeding Langlois’ access to his Coulibri Ridge
property.
Langlois sued, and, by October 2018, obtained a High Court judgment mandating Lehrer unblock the road and restore it to its previous condition. In 2019, the court affirmed the road’s public status, granting Langlois and his guests unrestricted access.
Since that time, Lehrer and his wife threatened and
confronted passersby, including Langlois and Coulbiri Ridge employees and guests
traveling between the resort and other parts of Soufriere.
Bois Cotlette is described as “one of the oldest surviving
estates on Dominica” and the “best-preserved example of plantation architecture
on the island,” on the property’s website, which notes the estate is “currently
closed.”
Following the suspects’ court hearing, a group of Dominica citizens, the Soufriere and Scotts Head communities gathered outside the courthouse for a rally to demand justice for Langlois and Marchand.
“We at the Ministry of Tourism and the Discover Dominica
Authority extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Daniel
Langlois and Dominique Marchand, on their tragic passing,” said Colin Piper, CEO of Discover Dominica, in a statement.
“Their loss leaves an irreplaceable void not only in our
lives but also in the heart of Dominica and the global sustainable tourism
community,” Piper said.
“Daniel and Dominique were more than just pioneers; they
were visionaries who dared to dream of a balance between luxury and
sustainability,” Piper continued.
“Their passion and commitment to this cause transformed
Coulibri Ridge into a beacon of green tourism, earning them global recognition
and a host of accolades. Their legacy has set a benchmark for others to aspire
to.”
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