( Dominica News Online) American-born, Dominican residents Jonathan Scott Lehrer and Robert Snider Jr. have been remanded into custody at the Dominica State Prison following a charge of murder preferred against them by the police. It is alleged that between November 29, 2023, and December 2, 2023, at Bois Cotlette in Soufriere, Lehrer and Snider Jr., did murder eco-resort owners Daniel Langlois and his wife Dominique Marchand.
The accused men who appeared before Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette-George were not required to enter a plea since murder is an indictable offense. On December 1, 2023, police discovered the charred remains of two individuals in a vehicle in the Soufriere area at about 7:00 a.m., believed to be those of French Canadians Langlois and Marchand, who were reported as missing.

The burnt vehicle discovered also aligns with the description of the couple’s car, police sources further revealed. Unfortunately, extreme fire conditions rendered the bodies unidentifiable, compelling investigators to rely on circumstantial evidence linking them to the missing couple. During the course of the police investigation, the investigator had taken into custody, Lehrer, his wife, Snider, and a Dominican man. However, after the investigation, only Lehrer and Snider Jr. were charged.
Langlois and Lehrer found themselves embroiled in a heated dispute revolving around the utilization of the Morne Rouge Public Road, a passage that cuts through the chocolatier’s estate. The dispute originated from Lehrer, the owner of Bois Cotlette Inc, obstructing the road by placing boulders, digging a trench, and deploying equipment, impeding Langlois’ access to their property.
This interference prompted legal action from Langlois, citing damages, loss, and tortious interference with their economic interests. They sought a permanent injunction against Lehrer and his company from disrupting their use of the Morne Rouge Public Road.
Legal proceedings commenced with an interim injunction issued on October 30, 2018, by the High Court mandating Lehrer to unblock the road and restore it to its prior condition. Subsequent hearings in November 2018 led to further
court orders, including directives involving the Attorney General. In 2019, High Court Judge Bernie Stephenson in her ruling affirmed the road’s public status, granting Langlois’ guests unrestricted access.
At today’s court proceedings, a multitude of citizens from the Soufriere and Scoots Head community gathered outside the courthouse, rallying in solidarity to demand justice for the beloved couple. Lehrer and Snider who are represented by attorney-at-law Wayne Norde and Lennox Lawrence will return to Court on March 15, 2024, for the start of the Preliminary Inquiry in the matter.