Welches, OR – A court appearance for Michel Fournier, the 71-year-old man accused of murdering his wife, Susan Lane-Fournier, has been delayed due to a technical issue with the jail’s video system. Fournier, who is being held without bail, was scheduled to appear in court on Monday but will now face the judge on Tuesday afternoon.
Fournier is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, 61-year-old Susan Lane-Fournier. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Lane-Fournier’s remains were found on November 29 at a location near Highway 26 and East Miller Road, several days after she was reported missing.
Lane-Fournier was last seen on November 22, when her employer reported her missing after she failed to show up for work. Deputies initially searched her home but were unable to locate her. The following day, a community member discovered her white 1992 Ford F-250 parked along E. Salmon River Road near a trailhead. Investigators believed she may have been hiking in Mt. Hood National Forest with her two Malinois-mix dogs.
A multi-agency search was launched on November 23, with help from Clackamas Search and Rescue, Portland Mountain Rescue, and other local organizations. Despite the extensive efforts, the search was officially called off later that day. Fournier was arrested the same day and booked into the Clackamas County Jail.
Fournier faces charges of second-degree murder, and authorities have also alleged that the crime was a case of domestic violence. Court records show that the couple had filed for divorce just weeks before Lane-Fournier’s death. The divorce paperwork, citing irreconcilable differences, was filed on October 31, 2024.
Fournier, who has declined a court-appointed attorney, is expected to appear in court again on Tuesday afternoon.
