The search for missing hiker Susan Lane-Fournier, 61, tragically ended after her body was discovered in Welches, Oregon, near the base of Mount Hood. Authorities confirmed her death as a homicide, and her husband, Michel Fournier, 71, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Lane-Fournier, known as “Phoenix” among her friends, was reported missing on November 22 after she failed to show up for work. The following day, a community member spotted her white Ford F-250 truck parked near East Salmon River Road, close to the Green Canyon Way Trail south of Welches. Lane-Fournier, an avid hiker, was believed to have been in the area with her two Malinois-mix dogs.
An extensive search operation was launched the next day, with over 20 volunteers and Clackamas County Search and Rescue teams combing through rugged terrain in challenging weather conditions, including temperatures below freezing. After more than 800 hours of searching, deputies found a body on Friday near East Highway 26 and East Miller Road in Welches.
Investigators revealed that Lane-Fournier had filed for divorce from her husband just a month before her disappearance, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce petition had not been successfully served to Michel Fournier.
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the body belonged to Lane-Fournier and ruled her death a homicide. Authorities quickly turned their focus to her husband, Michel Fournier, who was arrested and booked into Clackamas County Jail without bail on Saturday.
In addition to the homicide, the sheriff’s office reported finding two deceased dogs, believed to belong to Lane-Fournier, near the scene. Investigators are urging anyone who may have seen Michel Fournier in the days leading up to his wife’s disappearance to come forward with information about his activities.
Fournier’s arrest has raised questions about the tragic events leading to Lane-Fournier’s death, and the investigation is ongoing.