Chelsea mom charged with first degree murder
Posted Oct 25, 2011 06:07:06 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Catherine Dufresne, known to her neighbours as Kathy Fitzpatrick, has been charged with the first degree murder of her 7-year-old daughter Sophie.
Dufresne was ordered to have a psychiatric evaluation and is due back in court November 24. Police allege she strangled her daughter before trying to kill herself.
She made a surprise court appearance Monday after being released from hospital. A 30 day psychiatric evaluation will take place before she appears in court again. The crown said it will oppose any bail application once the hospital assessment is done. The defence lawyer said the case will likely be fought as first degree murder, Wayne Lora is not hopeful the crown would agree to a lesser charge.
Sophie’s father was away on business and when he returned to his home in the Kingsmere neighbourhood of Chelsea on Saturday he found the devastating scene.
MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais were called to the home at 80 Barnes Road, just after 1 p.m. Police alleged the 53-year-old Dufresne strangled the girl before trying to take her own life.
Meantime, residents in the small community are reeling after the tragedy.
Sophie’s old soccer coach told 1310News the Fitzpatricks were a beautiful family, even calling Sofie a little angel.
“She was very shy when I first met her. I watched over the years […] her just open up and everytime you’d see her she was skipping along, smile on her face, laughing – beautiful little girl.”
He added her mother was a loving and grateful parent.
“I think that’s what hurts a lot of people in this – is that they could see how much she loved her daughter.”
Black went on to say you would never have known something was wrong.
The Fitzpatricks adopted Sophie from China five and a half years ago.
