Mystery as couple die during vacation to paradise Caribbean island – with family saying their deaths were not murder or suicide
A Canadian couple was mysteriously found dead while vacationing in a Caribbean paradise island for the holidays, according to a devastated family member.
The bodies of Alain Noël, 56, and Christine Sauvé, 55, were discovered inside their rented vacation home in Villa Riva, Dominican Republic, on the night of December 25, Gilles Sauvé Jr., Christine’s brother, wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post.
The husband and wife, who share two children together, traveled from their home in Gatineau, a city in Quebec, to the popular Caribbean hotspot.
It is unclear when they arrived there and when they were due to return home, but according to Gilles, his sister and brother-in-law died in their sleep.
‘It is with great sadness that I announce the deaths of my sister Christine Sauvé and my brother-in-law Alain Noël, occurred in their sleep, on the night of December 25th to 26th,’ he wrote in a Facebook post alongside a selfie of the pair.
Their cause of death is unknown, but Gilles believes ‘there was absolutely no suicide or murder’, he told CTV News.
‘They were a very respected family, very close-knit, a really good family. They were loved by everyone and were planning to retire in the Dominican Republic with their new house,’ Gilles added.
He told the outlet his family has to wait 10 to 30 days to receive autopsy results and to have their bodies returned to Quebec.
Alain Noël, 56, and Christine Sauvé, 55, were found dead inside their rented vacation home in Villa Riva, Dominican Republic, on the night of December 25
The husband and wife traveled from their home in Gatineau, a city in Quebec, to Villa Riva, Dominican Republic, for the holidays. They were staying at a rented home in the small town
Global Affairs Canada, the country’s government department, told the Daily Mail it is ‘aware’ of their deaths and that ‘Canadian officials are providing consular assistance and communicating with local authorities to obtain more information’.
‘Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed,’ an agency spokesperson added.
A Facebook post made by Noël just two days before the couple died showed the exterior of a rental property. He went on to tag Tropical Paradise Liberté Résidentiel, a vacation home rental company.
The Daily Mail contacted Global Affairs Canada, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, and Tropical Paradise Liberté Résidentiel for comment.
Noël also shared snaps of meals they enjoyed during their travels, along with loving selfies of himself and his wife.
Following their deaths, Gilles has asked for privacy for himself and his family.
‘Out of respect for our family and in order to experience this grief privately, we ask for your time and understanding,’ he wrote in his post.
‘We will not be answering questions at this time. We are waiting for more answers to our questions before telling you more.
The couple shared two children together, according to their daughter, Sabrina Noël
‘Thank you for respecting our silence and keeping us in your thoughts.’
The couple shared two children together, according to their daughter, Sabrina Noël.
‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our parents, Christine Sauvé and Alain Noël, occurred in their sleep on the night of December 25th to 26th,’ she wrote on Facebook.
Villa Riva is a small town in the Dominican Republic that is under typical travel caution. The country is at a Level 2 for crime.
Level 2 tells tourists to exercise increased caution when traveling there.
