Lane-Fournier, known affectionately by her friends as "Phoenix," worked at the Hoodland Bazaar in Welches. On Monday, friends, family and community members gathered there for a vigil to remember Lane-Fournier. Court documents show she had filed for divorce from Fournier less than a month earlier, citing irreconcilable differences.
"She was just this whirlwind of energy and she was just so loud and so comfortable in who she was," said Lane-Fournier's friend, Cari Gesch. "She was just one of the strongest women I know."
Despite that, Gesch said Lane-Fournier had been scared of serving divorce papers to her estranged husband.
"She was very nervous about it. She was afraid he was going to do something to her and her dogs, and that's exactly what happened," Gesch said.
Friends called Susan "Phoenix" Lane-Fournier a "force of nature," noting her courage to file for divorce from her estranged husband.
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During opening statements, prosecutors presented evidence they said shows Fournier driving through Sandy on the day his estranged wife,
Susan “Phoenix” Lane-Fournier, went missing. Defense attorneys, who spoke briefly, told jurors they will need to carefully review a large amount of evidence that they say will prove Fournier's innocence.
Susan’s son, Jess Lane, testified that he was grateful when Michel joined their family after he and his brother lost their father.
“For me, we lost our dad in a car accident, so I always considered it a blessing that someone would provide for our family,” Lane said.
Susan Lane-Fournier and Michel Fournier's 12-year marriage was ending. She served him with divorce papers, and less than two days later, she was
reported missing on Nov. 22, 2024. A week later, she was
found dead from gunshot wounds in the woods on her property in Welches. One of her sons discovered a shell casing believed to have come from the .22-caliber firearm investigators say was used to kill her.
“I thought this is a good thing not to lose, and I picked it up and realized it wasn’t a good idea to pick up, and I put it back down,” Jesse Lane said.
Outside the courthouse, Susan’s brother said he believes Michel knew he would be left with nothing in the divorce. He said he believes that was the motive for the killing because her estranged husband wanted control of property that was solely in her name
Michel Fournier faces trial in the 2024 murder of his estranged wife. Her son testified Tuesday that he found evidence soon after her death.
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