Dominica - Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and companion Dominique Marchand found dead in burning car, three suspects detained - 30 Nov 2023

[Izzylizzy]

---

The Telegraph
Daniel Langlois: American chocolatier arrested after Oscar-winning animator found dead
4 hours ago

 

[Snoopster]

posted on the Dominica Politics FB group

 

[DFWNF]

Can you provide a mainstream media source for this?

The linked above here Daily Mail article has a fair bit of info on the road dispute too. American chocolatier detained after millionaire's murder in Dominica

 

[Snoopster]

It looks like 2 of the 4 people being held for questionning (Victoria Lehrer and a local man) have been released, while Jonathan Lehrer and another American, Robert Snider Jr., have been remanded into custody on murder charges.

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.

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.

https://dominicanewsonline.com/news...-on-charge-of-double-murder-of-resort-owners/

ETA: In the following article the second suspect's name is Snyder, not Snider. I'm not sure which is correct.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/2-charged-langlois-marchand-killing-dominica-1.7050513

 

[Cedars]

If you look at reviews of Bois Cotlette Plantation on a certain popular travel site, you will see that some people complained that they were verbally accosted if they showed up there without an advance reservation. The replies to those critical reviews by Jonathan Lehrer, the owner, are fairly telling. IMO.

A couple of amazingly patronizing and contemptuous responses! It seems the only visitors he welcomed were on cruiseship tours.

Jonathan Lehrer and another American, Robert Snider Jr., have been remanded into custody on murder charges.

https://dominicanewsonline.com/news...-on-charge-of-double-murder-of-resort-owners/

IMO, JL emerges from that van acting like he's a celebrity being welcomed to the Oscars or something. He forgets he's handcuffed to his injured co-accused, and appears to almost drag him out of the van.

This can't have been part of the alleged plan, but IMO, when arrogance goes awry, the response is to be even more arrogant.

JMO

 

[Snoopster]

A couple of amazingly patronizing and contemptuous responses! It seems the only visitors he welcomed were on cruiseship tours.


IMO, JL emerges from that van acting like he's a celebrity being welcomed to the Oscars or something. He forgets he's handcuffed to his injured co-accused, and appears to almost drag him out of the van.

This can't have been part of the alleged plan, but IMO, when arrogance goes awry, the response is to be even more arrogant.

JMO

BBM for focus.

Yeah, the locals were clearly not happy! They are out for justice.

 

[Snoopster]

While we knew that JL was originally from New Jersey, it appears that his co-accused is too.
(I think this is the correct RBS, as his photo matches the person in the police van.)
Robert B. Snyder, Jr. Elected to National MCAA Board of Directors. – MCANJ.ORG

It seems that Robert B Snyder Jr is a mechanical contractor. Unfortunately those skills didn't shine very well in his latest "job" since he badly burned himself while allegedly setting the victims and their car on fire. Of course we'll have to wait to find out if he's actually guilty of this crime.

Bob Snyder is CEO of Binsky (formerly Binsky & Snyder?), a mechanical contractor.
Leadership Team

 

[dotr]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/2-charged-langlois-marchand-killing-dominica-1.7050513

Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand​

Robert Snyder, left, and Jonathan Lehrer arrive at a courthouse in Roseau, Dominica, where they were charged with the murders of Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand. (EmoNews)

 

[Snoopster]

Does anyone know what Jonathan Lehrer did back in New Jersey? The Toronto Sun...take the source as you will...called him a "chocolate mogul". I believe he and Victoria bought the Dominica property about 11 years ago. I can't imagine that it is a money-maker. How did he earn his original money? And how did he know his co-accused?
Was he also from Piscataway?

 

[Cedars]

While we knew that JL was originally from New Jersey, it appears that his co-accused is too.
(I think this is the correct RBS, as his photo matches the person in the police van.)
Robert B. Snyder, Jr. Elected to National MCAA Board of Directors. – MCANJ.ORG

It seems that Robert B Snyder Jr is a mechanical contractor. Unfortunately those skills didn't shine very well in his latest "job" since he badly burned himself while allegedly setting the victims and their car on fire. Of course we'll have to wait to find out if he's actually guilty of this crime.

Bob Snyder is CEO of Binsky (formerly Binsky & Snyder?), a mechanical contractor.
Leadership Team

Wow, fabulous sleuthing! I was assuming the co-accused was a desperado who'd washed up on the island, but perhaps we're talking childhood friend...reminds me of Mark Sievers.

That would explain why JL looked so friendly with him inside the van, in photos from Dominica online.

JMO

 

[Snoopster]

Wow, fabulous sleuthing! I was assuming the co-accused was a desperado who'd washed up on the island, but perhaps we're talking childhood friend...reminds me of Mark Sievers.

That would explain why JL looked so friendly with him inside the van, in photos from Dominica online.

JMO

I assumed that originally too. There are a lot of 'characters' in these remote Carribean locations. Some are simply 'quirky' people (hey, I'm quirky) who want freedom and enjoy nature, but there is a large dollop of people running from stuff.
But I'm guessing that these guys knew each other before Dominica.

I can imagine (all my wild imagination) JL saying to RS, "hey, you are in the 'contracting business', so you must have some contacts that could help me out." And then it doesn't turn out that RS has "those" type of contacts, so he volunteers himself. Maybe JL treated him well and helped fund his lifestyle in Dominica. I really, really want to know how JL came into his wealth and how these two guys knew each other.

 

[Cedars]

But I'm guessing that these guys knew each other before Dominica.
I can imagine (all my wild imagination) JL saying to RS, "hey, you are in the 'contracting business', so you must have some contacts that could help me out." And then it doesn't turn out that RS has "those" type of contacts, so he volunteers himself. Maybe JL treated him well and helped fund his lifestyle in Dominica. I really, really want to know how JL came into his wealth and how these two guys knew each other.

I hope, given the high media profile, it's only a matter of time before people who knew/know them start to talk. Imagine the shock when people at the NJ company, etc, see that photo.

I can only imagine, if this was a loyal friend doing the actual violence...firstly it was because of a fear that anyone hired to do it could potentially blackmail or point the finger if arrested and ...secondly, mechanical engineering was covering up something nasty...

JMO

 

[Snoopster]

In an interview with Le Journal de Montreal, Mr Lehrer's father, Robert, said he believed his son was innocent.

"Jonathan is a successful businessman, not a murderer," he told the French-Canadian newspaper. "We are very close and he is not a violent man at all. I have a hard time believing it."

Robert added his son's legal dispute with Mr Langlois had "bothered him a lot," but that he had not heard any updates on the matter in recent years.

So what was his successful business??
It can't be showing occasional cruise day-trippers around your chocolate 'plantation'. That won't make you rich.

I wonder if Jonathan swindled money out of his wealthy father. Is that why we can't find a successful business of JL's back in the USA? Is JL just a narcissistic charmer who hoodwinked his father?

 

[Cedars]

So what was his successful business??
It can't be showing occasional cruise day-trippers around your chocolate 'plantation'. That won't make you rich.

I was looking at the property Bois Cotlette website, there's a section promoting that investors could buy a share in the property and be rewarded with Dominica citizenship. Investment Process for Citizenship by Investment at Bois Cotlette in Dominica | Bois Cotlette Estate

From the date of this report, the scheme goes back to at least 2017 Invest in Bois Cotlette Estate for Dominica Passport | Citizenship by Investment Journal

It was still active in early 2022, and they apparently had big plans:
"The new development will include 90 rooms contained in 20 luxury villas and 15 cottages.

“Bois Cotlette will be a five-star luxurious living development and club facility and it will significantly boost the island’s hospitality industry,”

How to get Dominica citizenship as property investor? – Best Citizenships

best-citizenships.com

So it seems it might be the familiar old 'buy property cheap, make a killing on massive development' scheme. Chocolate my eye.

ETA: maybe Daddy had financed the initial purchase. Maybe the co-accused is an investor.

JMO

 

[azure]

I was looking at the property Bois Cotlette website, there's a section promoting that investors could buy a share in the property and be rewarded with Dominica citizenship. Investment Process for Citizenship by Investment at Bois Cotlette in Dominica | Bois Cotlette Estate

From the date of this report, the scheme goes back to at least 2017 Invest in Bois Cotlette Estate for Dominica Passport | Citizenship by Investment Journal

It was still active in early 2022, and they apparently had big plans:
"The new development will include 90 rooms contained in 20 luxury villas and 15 cottages.

“Bois Cotlette will be a five-star luxurious living development and club facility and it will significantly boost the island’s hospitality industry,”

How to get Dominica citizenship as property investor? – Best Citizenships

best-citizenships.com

So it seems it might be the familiar old 'buy property cheap, make a killing on massive development' scheme. Chocolate my eye.

ETA: maybe Daddy had financed the initial purchase. Maybe the co-accused is an investor.

JMO

Here are some benefits of Dominican citizenship:
"Minimal taxation, with no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax".

Benefits of Dual Citizenship | Dominica CBIU

Dominica's CBI programme offers a huge range of advantages to investors. Learn all about about the benefits of having dual citizenship here.

www.cbiu.gov.dm

Anyone interested is likely to be high net worth, so it could be a lucrative business.

 

[Snoopster]

Here are some benefits of Dominican citizenship:
"Minimal taxation, with no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax".

Benefits of Dual Citizenship | Dominica CBIU

Dominica's CBI programme offers a huge range of advantages to investors. Learn all about about the benefits of having dual citizenship here.

www.cbiu.gov.dm

Anyone interested is likely to be high net worth, so it could be a lucrative business.

Thanks for that info.
You've got to wonder if they sold any 'lots'. Heck, they didn't want anyone else driving up the road!

That investment program applies to anyone buying property anywhere in Dominica. It's not unique to Bois Cotlette. If anyone was likely to invest, it would be further up the road at Colibri. I wonder if that was a futher thorn in the side of the Lehrer's.

Alternatively it might have been a story that JL put out there to his father to show the 'potential' success of his daliance in Dominica.
Having said that, I still don't knw if JL had earned some wealth back in the States. He very well might have but I haven't found it yet. Has anyone else?

 

[Cedars]

Here are some benefits of Dominican citizenship:
"Minimal taxation, with no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax".

Benefits of Dual Citizenship | Dominica CBIU

Dominica's CBI programme offers a huge range of advantages to investors. Learn all about about the benefits of having dual citizenship here.

www.cbiu.gov.dm

Anyone interested is likely to be high net worth, so it could be a lucrative business.

Yes - I imagine Langlois and Marchand obtained citizenship by investing in their resort.

But there were hints of corruption in an expose published this October, which may have shaken up the status quo.

Revealed: thousands who bought ‘golden passports’ through Dominica’s $1bn scheme

Former Afghan spymaster, convicted millionaire and former Libyan colonel among those who became Dominican citizens

www.theguardian.com

 

[Cedars]

Thanks for that info.
You've got to wonder if they sold any 'lots'. Heck, they didn't want anyone else driving up the road!

That investment program applies to anyone buying property anywhere in Dominica.

To clarify, Bois Cotlette was not subdividing, it was selling 'shares', ie part-ownership in the whole property, just like you can buy shares in a company. I don't know whether there was a right-to-stay component, or if staying there cost extra.

Also, Dominica doesn't grant citizenship just for purchasing property, the golden visas are only for investment in a limited, approved list of tourism-oriented developments.

Real Estate Investment | Dominica CBIU

Want to obtain Dominican citizenship through real estate investment? Find more about the process and it's requirements here.

www.cbiu.gov.dm

JMO

ETA: Bois Cotlette is not on the list in that last linked government webpage, but I assume it was removed after the arrest.

 

[tarabull]

The website shows them as "currently closed ~ check back soon!"

Bois Cotlette Estate |

Bois Cotlette is one of the oldest surviving estates on Dominica. It is the best preserved example of plantation architecture on the island.

www.boiscotlette.com

ETA scroll down.

 

[TailSpin]

John Lehrer is a referred to as a chocolate mogul in news articles. The location at Bois Cotlette doe not appear to be that expansive and the website mostly goes over tourism chocolate experience tours. Is there more to his chocolate business than this estate in Dominica?