Suvechha Sarkar
In November 2024, 61-year-old Susan Marie Lane-Fournier, lovingly known as Phoenix, and her two dogs, Elrond and Elros, disappeared without a trace. It prompted an extensive search in Welches, Oregon, leaving her loved ones searching for answers. Unfortunately, the case took a disturbing turn when she and her dogs were found dead. CBS’ ’48 Hours: Murder at Mount Hood’ explores the details of the investigation and reveals troubling details about someone close to her. The episode also features interviews with her son, friend, and law enforcement officials who helped determine the truth behind the crime.
Susan Lane and Her Dogs’ Remains Were Found a Few Days After Their Disappearance
Susan Marie Lane, affectionately known as Phoenix, was welcomed into the world sometime around 1963. She grew up in a tight-knit household in Vallejo, California, with her loving brothers, Michael and Steven Lane. She was often described as an outgoing individual who was always attuned to her artistic side. After graduating from high school, Susan attended the University of the Pacific. In adulthood, she crossed paths with her soulmate, Fred, and they soon began dating. Shortly after, the couple tied the knot and welcomed their sons, Dakota “Kota” and Jesse Lane, over the next few years. Susan and her family eventually moved to Kansas, but tragedy struck when Fred sadly passed away in a car accident.
The loss pushed Susan to adopt the name Phoenix, and she focused on raising her two sons as a single mother. She believed she had found love again when she met Michel Fournier (also spelled Michael). As they began dating, they relocated to Oregon, where they got married in May 2012. There, Susan began working as a Manager at Hoodland Bazaar while also conducting sound baths and related classes. Another significant part of her life revolved around her two beloved dogs, Elrond and Elros. On November 22, 2024, her employer contacted the authorities to report her missing after she failed to show up for work and no one could reach her. Officials quickly launched a search in the Mount Hood area of Welches, Oregon, initially believing that Susan had gone hiking with her two dogs.
On November 23, Susan’s vehicle was found parked along East Salmon River Road. Despite joint efforts by officials and the community, she and her dogs were not found. On November 29, a local discovered her remains under a tarp near the intersection of East Highway 26 and East Miller Road. The following day, they recovered the remains of two dogs, who were later identified as Elrond and Elros, in Multnomah County. Meanwhile, Susan’s autopsy report revealed that she was shot multiple times in the neck, head, and chest with a .22-caliber rifle. Her cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Reports state that it was later uncovered that her dogs died from strangulation.
Forensic Evidence and Surveillance Footage Linked the Killer to the Crime
During the initial investigation, officials determined that Susan was last seen on November 21, 2024. They further discovered that Michel had not reported his wife missing until November 24, only after they attempted to contact him. According to official reports, during the 911 call, he stated he had received divorce papers from Susan. It came to light that she had filed for divorce from him on October 31 and served him with the documents on November 20. Further records suggest that when detectives questioned Michel, he claimed that he had last seen Susan on November 22. In his statements, he claimed that he had hitchhiked to an auto parts shop that morning, but he couldn’t find her, Elrond and Elros, or her truck when he returned home.
According to the investigators on the show, they found CCTV footage from the auto parts store that captured Susan’s truck outside, with her dogs in the back. It further showed that Michel was driving her vehicle and no one else was present inside, contradicting his statement that he had hitchhiked that morning. When authorities tracked Susan’s truck, they recovered additional surveillance footage from the area along Northeast Marine Drive, where the car was parked beside the Columbia River. Investigative reports indicate that when officials searched the location, they found her cellphone, which was destroyed and submerged in the river water.
Court records specify that forensic experts found Susan’s DNA inside Michel’s car. Moreover, upon searching his room, they uncovered ammunition for a .22-caliber rifle, which was consistent with the caliber used to kill his wife. During another police interview, Michel admitted to killing Elrond and Elros using a leash and zip ties. According to one of Susan’s friends on the show, in the days leading up to the murder, she was allegedly afraid that Michel would hurt her dogs. He was arrested on November 29, 2024, and held without bail at the Clackamas County Jail in Oregon City. Michel was later indicted on the murder charge and unlawful use of a weapon. He also faced charges of first-degree aggravated animal abuse.
Michel Fournier is Incarcerated at an Oregon Prison Facility Today
The jury trial of Michel commenced on February 24, 2026, during which the prosecution presented footage of his police interview, surveillance footage, and Susan’s destroyed cellphone. They further emphasized that she had served the defendant with divorce documents shortly before the murder. The prosecution pointed out that her remains were hidden not far from their home. Additionally, prosecutors played recorded police interviews that they argued captured Michel admitting to strangling Susan’s dogs. On the other hand, the defense argued that the prosecutors failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and contended that leading interrogation tactics were used by detectives to put incriminating statements in Michel’s mouth.
On March 5, 2026, Michel was found guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. He was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. It is essential to note that he is still facing first-degree aggravated animal abuse charges separately. The defendant has not yet been convicted of those respective charges. As of writing, Michel is serving his sentence at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, Oregon.
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