A 72-year-old Oregon man has been found guilty of second-degree murder after fatally shooting his estranged wife and later strangling her two dogs, bringing a disturbing case to an end in Clackamas County.
Michel Fournier was convicted by a jury on Thursday after deliberations concluded in the case involving the death of his wife, Susan Lane, 61. Prosecutors said Fournier shot Lane three times with a .22-caliber rifle, striking her in the head, neck, and chest.
Clackamas County Circuit Judge Cody Weston sentenced Fournier to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
During the investigation, Fournier met multiple times with detectives and made several statements that suggested his involvement in the killing, though he never clearly admitted responsibility. In one meeting, he told investigators that he had done “something catastrophic” and that “someone lost their life” because of it.
Authorities said Fournier attempted to cover up the crime after the shooting. According to prosecutors, he destroyed his wife’s cellphone and discarded it near Portland International Airport. He also parked her truck near a hiking trail, wrapped her body in tarps, and failed to report her missing while search teams looked for her in the Mount Hood National Forest area.
Investigators also revealed that Fournier strangled Lane’s two dogs, Elrond and Elros, claiming he was worried they would suffer if they were taken to a shelter.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors relied on a combination of surveillance footage, physical evidence, and several recorded interviews with Fournier. Videos presented in court showed him speaking at length about personal matters, including financial concerns, family issues, and his belief that his wife had poisoned his drinks—claims that investigators said were unsupported by forensic tests or medical records.
Prosecutors argued that Fournier acted deliberately, motivated by anger over his wife’s plans to leave him and concerns about the financial impact of a divorce. Evidence showed he was particularly focused on the couple’s shared home and property during the separation.
Lane’s adult sons, Jesse and Dakota Lane, attended the eight-day trial and testified for the prosecution. Fournier’s defense team chose not to call any witnesses, instead arguing that investigators had focused too quickly on Fournier and failed to meet the burden of proof.
Jurors also heard recordings of jailhouse phone calls in which Fournier expressed regret. In one conversation with Dakota Lane, he reportedly said, “I’m sorry. I lost it.”
Despite those statements, Fournier ultimately declined to testify in his own defense before the jury reached its verdict.
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