Spending a week traveling in paradise with the person you love should be a dream vacation. For those in abusive relationships, however, that dream vacation can quickly become a living nightmare.
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When a Canadian mother went for a romantic getaway in Mexico with her boyfriend, her family thought they hadn't heard from her for several days because she was having the time of her life. However, after her boyfriend came home alone, details about his past were revealed that made the worried family fear for the worst…
A Romantic Vacation
On November 29, 2018, 41-year-old Christine St-Onge, who worked as a travel agent, decided to go on a vacation with her 52-year-old boyfriend, Pierre Bergeron. Both St-Onge and Bergeron lived in Montreal, which is in Quebec, Canada, and decided to go somewhere warm for their romantic getaway.
Home For Christmas
Because St-Onge was a mother to two sons aged seven and 11, she needed to be home with plenty of time before Christmas. So the couple planned to go to Mexico for their vacation starting on November 29 and had decided to come back together on December 6.
Checking In
So on that Thursday, November 29, the pair left Quebec and flew to Mexico together. Once they arrived, the couple made their way to San Jose del Cabo. St-Onge and Bergeron then checked into their hotel room at the Secrets of Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort.
A Week In Paradise
The couple was supposed to stay at the resort for a week before heading back to the airport and flying back to Canada. According to St-Onge's family, they had spoken to the 41-year-old several times during the trip and it seemed like she was having a good time.
Shocking News
However, the mother's family became worried when local police officers contacted them on December 6, which was the day that St-Onge and Bergeron were supposed to return together. According to the police, Bergeron had been found dead in Canada.
A Grisly Discovery
Authorities explained that Bergeron's body had been discovered in a small village in the Laurentians, a mountain range located in southern Quebec. Investigators revealed to the family that Bergeron had committed suicide and then asked if they had seen or heard from St-Onge.
The Last Phone Call
St-Onge's family told authorities that they last spoke to the 41-year-old on December 4. They hadn't heard from her since but didn't think anything of it. They had all assumed that she and Bergeron were too busy on the final days of their vacation to talk.
An Early Flight Home
The police then explained that Bergeron had flown home from Mexico the day before they had planned to return. To make matters worse, he had flown back to Canada alone without any luggage. Aside from his own documents and ticket, the only other thing Bergeron had with him was St-Onge's ticket.
The Search Begins
An investigation was launched immediately to try and locate St-Onge. At the time, authorities hoped they would be able to find St-Onge alive and unharmed. Yet as several days passed with no word from St-Onge, her family started to fear the worst had happened.
A History Of Abuse
Bergeron had a history of domestic abuse, and St-Onge's family worried that St-Onge had become the 52-year-old's latest victim after they had dated for just four short months. Meanwhile, Nathalie Tardif, St-Onge's best friend, had remained hopeful and started a GoFundMe page.
Hoping For The Best
Tardif hoped to raise some funds to give St-Onge's son a fun surprise to try and lift their moods during the trying time. "Nothing can replace the presence of their sweet mother, but I'm trying to find a way to help them spend some sweet moments this holiday season. Put a balm on the heart, even a smile on their face," Tardif wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The Ex-Wife
However, as word spread about the missing mother, Bergeron's ex-wife came forward and explained St-Onge's family had reason to worry. Nancy Morel, Bergeron's former wife, has claimed that the 52-year-old had been violent, manipulative, and extremely controlling throughout their relationship.
A Close Call
According to Morel, Bergeron had terrorized her throughout the duration of their relationship. In a statement to the Journal de Montréal, Bergeron claimed that during a vacation they took together to Mexico in 2014, Bergeron almost killed her.
Jealous And Controlling
"Why? Because he was extremely jealous. Crazy about everything. He forbade me to wear open sandals unless I was at home or on the boat, etc.," Morel said. During that trip, they spent the entire time alone in the villa Bergeron had rented to keep her from talking to anyone.
The Attack
The few times they did go out, Morel claimed Bergeron would have a jealous tantrum if she spoke with anyone. Then on February 18, 2015, Bergeron tried to rape Morel as punishment for coming home later than expected to the home that they shared.
Bergeron's Next Victim
Morel managed to get away from Bergeron after that terrifying night and filed a report with the police, which resulted in Bergeron pleading guilty to the assault and having to make a donation to abused women as part of the plea. Unfortunately, St-Onge wasn't so lucky.
Signs Of An Attack
Authorities in Mexico searched the hotel room that Bergeron and St-Onge had shared. They discovered her belongings still in the room as well as traces of blood. According to authorities, there were also signs that a body had been moved from the room. Then on December 12, police finally found a body.
Uncovering The Body
"Today (Wednesday, December 12) at approximately 10:00 am [a body] was located in the vicinity of a hotel, a body without life of the female sex, in a state of decomposition," Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, state prosecutor of Baja California Sur, said in a statement reported by BCS Noticias.
The Autopsy
The body, which authorities believed was St-Onge, was found hidden in the bushes of the Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course, which was next to the hotel the couple had stayed at. During the autopsy, authorities learned that the body had been dead for at least five days.
Awaiting Confirmation
According to the autopsy, the body presumably belonging to St-Onge died of head trauma as well as a spinal cord injury. St-Onge's family was immediately notified of the news, but Canadian authorities have explained that the identity of the body still needs to be confirmed once the body is returned to Canada.