Husband Killed Wife Days After Divorce Papers, Staged Disappearance

Susan “Phoenix” Lane-Fournier, 61, had spent weeks preparing to leave her marriage. She had filed for divorce, started bringing her laptop and important documents to work every day, and made sure her two dogs were always with her. On November 22, 2024, she did not show up for her shift at the Hoodland Bazaar in Welches, Oregon. A coworker reported her missing.

Her husband, Michel Fournier, 72, was arrested one week later. On March 5, 2026, a Clackamas County jury convicted him of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to life in prison the same day.

What Prosecutors Said Happened

According to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Fournier shot Susan three times with a .22-caliber rifle on the morning of November 22, just two days after she had served him with divorce papers. Prosecutors said Fournier was motivated by fear of losing the couple’s shared home - a property held in Susan’s name - in the divorce settlement.

After the shooting, Fournier covered her body with a tarp and concealed it approximately 350 yards from the house. He then strangled her two Belgian Malinois dogs, Elrond and Elros, using zip ties and a leash. He drove Susan’s truck to Portland, where surveillance footage later showed him disposing of her cellphone in the Columbia River. When detectives first questioned him, Fournier claimed Susan had gone missing on a hiking trip. He did not report her missing - but called 911 on November 24 after detectives attempted to contact him, reportedly saying: “I’m doing it now. I just got served with divorce papers.”

A Community That Refused to Stop Looking

When Susan did not appear for work, friends and neighbors in the tight-knit community of Welches immediately began searching. Her friend Christen Prudence told KOIN 6 News that from the beginning, she and others knew something was wrong. “We knew she was not a missing hiker,” Prudence said. “We knew he was responsible.”

After four days of search and rescue operations in the Mount Hood National Forest came up empty, official efforts were called off. A community member continued searching independently and found Susan’s body on November 29 - located only 350 yards from the home she and Fournier had shared.

Who Susan Lane-Fournier Was

Susan had earned her nickname “Phoenix” after rebuilding her life following the death of her first husband in a car accident years earlier. Her son Jesse told a vigil gathering that the name reflected who she was - someone who rose from loss.

Friends described her as fierce and unafraid to be herself. She had plans to open a new shop in Welches. She was days away from a new chapter. “Part of the weight I’ve been holding for the past 15 months is starting to come off,” Prudence said after the verdict. “The truth is in the light, and her story is being told.”

The Verdict

The jury deliberated for approximately five hours before returning guilty verdicts on both counts. The panel also formally determined the murder was a domestic violence crime. Fournier was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He is 72 years old.

Susan’s son Dakota spoke directly to Fournier during victim impact statements. “I never liked you from the moment I met you,” he said. “And now I’m shaking with fury.” Fournier still faces separate aggravated animal abuse charges in connection with the deaths of Elrond and Elros.

References: Welches Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Killing Wife | Michel Fournier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering His Wife