Fentanyl killed Gatineau couple found with unharmed child

A Gatineau couple found dead and decomposing in their apartment alongside an unharmed three-year-old died from anaccidental fentanyloverdose, acoroner has found.

The bodies of 20-year-old AmlieGauthier-Matteand 33-year-old ChristopherLecouviewere discovered in an advanced state of decomposition, their bodies lying intertwined on abed at their rueBginhomenear MoussetteParkon Monday,Feb. 27.

They're believed to have died four days earlier, on Thursday, Feb. 23, but weren't found until the child was noticedthrowingtoys out a window, according to coroner's reports released Thursday.

That prompted a neighbour and friend of the couple to check on them.

Drugs found in their systems

Gauthier-Matte and Lecouvie both had fentanyl, MDMA and methamphetamine in their systems, toxicology results showed. Gauthier-Matte also had heroin metabolites in her system, while Lecouvie showed cannabis in his, the reports said.

They died from respiratory failure caused by fentanyl intoxication, the coroner concluded.

HakimFarhat, who regularly visits a friend in the same building, told CBC News in Februaryhelast saw the couple three or four days before they were found dead.

"They were in the balcony, Iremember... I think they werewith a couple of friends but nothing really like a hard party or anything. They were just talking or something. Sometimes Isee them barbecue, sometimes I see them playing with the kid on the balcony, but I never expected such a thing to happen," Farhatsaid.

Neighbours saidthe couplehad been living in the apartment for at least six months.

2 bodies found in Hull apartment

8 years ago

Duration 0:16

A man and woman were found dead inside an apartment in Gatineau's Hull neighbourhood Monday afternoon, along with an alive and unharmed three-year-old child.