Claude Lemieux report details family’s sobriety concerns before death
An incident report says Lemieux’s wife and son had worried about a possible relapse before the former NHL player died by suicide at 60.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Claude Lemieux’s family had grown worried about changes in his behavior before his death, according to an incident report released by officials.
The report, detailed by TMZ, says Lemieux’s son, Brendan, told officials the family had noticed a shift in the former NHL player over the previous year. Brendan said relatives were concerned Lemieux may have relapsed after 12 years of sobriety, according to the report.
Lemieux died by suicide on May 28 at age 60, TMZ previously reported. He is survived by his wife, Deborah, and their four children.
Family confrontation hours before death
According to the incident report, Deborah confronted Lemieux on May 27 about her concerns. The report says Lemieux “acknowledged” the concerns, and Deborah told him to leave the home at about 10:30 p.m.
Deborah then called Brendan, according to the report. Brendan later went to the residence, where the family discussed how they could support Lemieux.
Later that night, Brendan checked Lemieux’s phone location and saw he was at the family business, the report says. Brendan drove there and found his father’s Ford truck in the parking lot.
According to officials, Brendan knew Lemieux kept a firearm in the glovebox of the vehicle. Because of the emotional nature of the situation, the report says, Brendan removed the weapon and secured it in his own vehicle.
Brendan then went inside the business’s warehouse and found his father, according to the report. Officials say Brendan called 911 at 3:24 a.m., and Lemieux was pronounced dead minutes later.
Phone message and toxicology findings
Officials said a cell phone was found near Lemieux’s body with a message written on it, according to the report. No further details about the message were provided.
The report also says a bag of THC edibles was found near Lemieux at the scene. Officials said a toxicology report came back “negative” for all analytes.
Lemieux was a longtime NHL figure whose death prompted tributes from across the hockey world. The newly released report adds details about the private concerns his family had in the months and hours before his death.
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This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.