Quebec's January Femicide Crisis: Five Women Killed in Domestic Violence Tragedies
January 2026 proved to be a devastating month for women's safety in Quebec, with five separate femicides occurring across the province. These tragic deaths have sparked renewed conversations about intimate partner violence and what many advocates describe as a collective societal failure to protect vulnerable women.
According to federal Justice Department statistics, women in Canada face greater risk of being killed by an intimate partner than by any other type of perpetrator. One in six homicides nationwide involves a husband, boyfriend, partner, or former partner. While men also experience intimate partner violence, Quebec government data reveals that women still comprise approximately three-quarters of complainants in such cases.
The Five Victims of January's Violence
Tadjan'ah Desir became the first victim on New Year's Day. Witnesses reported seeing her allegedly pushed from a third-floor balcony in Montreal's Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. Emergency responders found her unconscious and gravely injured on the sidewalk, where she later died in hospital. James Theramene, identified by Desir's mother as her ex-partner, faces manslaughter charges.
Mary Iqiquq Tukalak was discovered dead on January 5 in Puvirnituq, a northern Quebec community. Her children arrived at their parents' home to find their mother deceased on the kitchen floor and their father in the bedroom with a firearm. After the son disarmed his father and fled with his sister to call police, the father took his own life with another weapon, creating what authorities determined to be a murder-suicide.
Susana Rocha Cruz was last seen alive in Quebec City on January 7. Police began investigating her disappearance five days later and charged her boyfriend, Abraham Gonzalez Leon, with assault causing bodily harm even before locating her. A body discovered in frigid waters near a ferry dock on January 13 was later identified as Cruz, prompting upgraded charges against Leon for second-degree murder.
Véronic Champagne was stabbed to death in her Rougemont apartment on January 18, allegedly by her spouse. Their four-year-old daughter witnessed the altercation, and reports indicate the alleged perpetrator placed the child outside in her snowsuit before starting a fire in the home. David Guertin sustained injuries in the blaze and will face charges upon recovery. Friends and neighbors revealed Champagne had endured a prolonged history of abuse from her partner.
Marie-Kate Ottawa, a 39-year-old mother, was found dead alongside her ex-partner, Yann Nequado, in the Atikamekw community of Manawan on January 25. Police are investigating the incident as a murder-suicide. The recently separated couple had posted concerning messages about their breakup on social media in the days preceding their deaths.
The Predictable Nature of Femicide
Advocacy organizations emphasize that femicides represent the most predictable form of homicide, with past violence serving as a significant precursor. The groups Un toit pour elles and the Coalition féministe contre la violence envers les femmes documented 24 femicides in Quebec during 2024, declaring the situation "a collective emergency." Preliminary 2025 statistics showed 15 femicides as of October, with updated figures pending.
These organizations define femicide as "a specific form of homicide, different from other types of murder due to their motivations: hate, contempt or the idea of male domination over women." Their comprehensive report identifies twelve distinct categories of femicide, highlighting the complex nature of gender-based violence.
Systemic Responses and Legal Changes
In December 2025, the federal government announced significant amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada aimed at curbing intimate-partner violence and femicide. The changes will elevate homicides motivated by hate or accompanied by coercive control to first-degree murder status, even without evidence of planning or deliberation. Additionally, the legislation will criminalize coercive control specifically, enabling earlier intervention before domestic violence escalates to lethal levels.
The Justice Department noted that killings featuring hate motivations and controlling behaviors disproportionately target women, with such incidents increasing by 39 percent between 2024 and 2025. Coercive control encompasses non-physical violence tactics designed to oppress or instill fear in victims, including financial restrictions, communication monitoring, and isolation from family and social networks.
Local Initiatives and Prevention Efforts
Montreal authorities implemented a new protocol in November 2025 for handling intimate-partner abuse cases involving strangulation. A police department memorandum explained that "strangulation is a form of domination, control and humiliation on the part of aggressors to brutally show the victims they hold their lives in their hands." Research indicates that when strangulation attempts occur, the risk of future lethal violence increases substantially.
An 18-month pilot project in Montreal's east end provided specialized training for police, prosecutors, and other intervenors while ensuring victims received comprehensive follow-up regarding health and safety risks. The Sûreté du Québec reports that intimate-partner violence reporting has tripled over the past decade, suggesting increased willingness to denounce abuse.
Women's Shelters Canada recently launched the "Refer Her" campaign targeting employers, encouraging businesses to direct staff experiencing intimate-partner violence toward appropriate resources. The organization plans to offer specialized training to help workplaces recognize warning signs and respond effectively.
These proactive measures underscore crucial messages: victims are not alone, and violence against women represents everyone's responsibility. Unfortunately, these developments arrive too late for January's five victims, whose deaths highlight the urgent need for continued societal action against gender-based violence.
Individuals experiencing intimate-partner violence can contact SOS Violence Conjugale 24 hours daily at 1-800-363-9010.
