Two Men Plead Guilty in Deadly 2024 Old Montreal Fire That Killed Mother and Daughter

Two men charged in connection with the deadly Old Montreal fire that claimed the lives of a French mother and her seven-year-old daughter have pleaded guilty to manslaughter, marking a major development in a case that shocked Montreal and raised serious questions about public safety.

Justin Fortier-Trahan and Juventino Hernandez Pelaez entered guilty pleas to reduced charges on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The two men had originally faced two counts of second-degree murder each following the October 4, 2024, fire at a building on Notre-Dame Street East.

Their pleas mean they will no longer face trial on the original murder charges. Instead, the court will determine their sentences after considering the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Léonor Geraudie and her daughter, Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie.

The case is now approaching an important stage, with the two men expected to return to court in mid-December for sentencing. Here is what happened, why the charges changed, and what the guilty pleas mean for the families affected by the tragedy.

Old Montreal Fire: What Happened on October 4, 2024?

The fatal fire broke out during the early hours of October 4, 2024, inside a building on Notre-Dame Street East in Old Montreal. The property contained a restaurant-bar on its ground floor, while the upper two floors were being used as a hostel.

The building was occupied by visitors staying in the accommodation when the fire started. Among them were Léonor Geraudie, a 43-year-old French woman, and her seven-year-old daughter, Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie.

The mother and daughter were visiting Montreal from France. They became trapped as the fire spread through the building and were unable to escape. Both died from smoke inhalation, according to details reported during the legal proceedings.

The fire became one of the most disturbing incidents to affect the historic neighbourhood in recent years. It destroyed the building and left the victims' loved ones facing an unimaginable loss.

The tragedy also attracted attention because the property combined a restaurant with accommodation on its upper floors. Questions about the building's use and the circumstances surrounding the incident became part of the wider public discussion.

Who Are the Two Men Who Pleaded Guilty?

The two men who admitted responsibility in the case are Justin Fortier-Trahan and Juventino Hernandez Pelaez. They were 20 and 18 years old respectively when they were initially charged following the October 2024 fire.

By November 2026, Fortier-Trahan was 21 and Hernandez Pelaez was 20. Both had originally faced two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of the mother and her daughter.

According to the facts reported in connection with their guilty pleas, the two men had different roles during the incident.

• Justin Fortier-Trahan: He admitted to entering the building and throwing an incendiary device into the restaurant area, where the fire started.
• Juventino Hernandez Pelaez: He admitted to driving the getaway vehicle while Fortier-Trahan carried out the act.

The admissions provide important details about how the incident unfolded. They also establish the connection between the actions of the two men and the deaths that followed.

Their guilty pleas bring the case closer to its sentencing stage, although the court must still determine the appropriate punishment for each individual.

Why Did the Old Montreal Fire Murder Charges Become Manslaughter?

One of the biggest questions surrounding the case is why the original second-degree murder charges were replaced by manslaughter pleas.

Initially, both men faced two counts of second-degree murder. A trial on those charges had been expected to begin later in November 2026. However, the proceedings took a different direction when the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offences.

In criminal cases, a guilty plea to a reduced charge can bring a case to a conclusion without requiring a full trial on the original allegations. The final charge can have a significant effect on the sentencing process and the potential punishment.

Second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence under Canada's Criminal Code. By pleading guilty to manslaughter instead, the two men avoided the mandatory life sentence associated with a murder conviction.

However, this does not mean that manslaughter is a minor offence or that imprisonment is automatically avoided. The court still has to determine the appropriate sentence based on the admitted facts and the circumstances of the offence.

The distinction between murder and manslaughter is important in Canadian criminal law. The two offences carry different legal consequences, even when a criminal act results in the deaths of victims.

What Is the Difference Between Murder and Manslaughter in Canada?

Under Canadian law, murder and manslaughter are separate forms of culpable homicide. The legal classification depends on the circumstances of the killing and the elements that prosecutors must establish.

Second-degree murder is a murder offence that does not fall within the legal definition of first-degree murder. A conviction carries a mandatory life sentence.

Manslaughter is a different offence involving culpable homicide that does not legally amount to murder. It can carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment, but it does not automatically impose the same mandatory life sentence that applies to murder convictions.

In this case, the guilty pleas were entered to manslaughter charges. That distinction is central to understanding why the sentencing stage will be different from the trial that had originally been planned.

Readers can consult the official Canadian legislation for the legal provisions governing these offences through the Government of Canada's Criminal Code, Section 236.

What the Admitted Facts Reveal About the Fatal Fire

Details reported by Quebec media provide a clearer picture of the events leading up to the fire. According to the facts described in court coverage, the two men were driving around the targeted building during the early morning hours of October 4, 2024.

The reported account also connects the incident to another fire that had occurred earlier that morning at a café in Montreal's Verdun borough. The damage in that earlier incident was described as limited.

At the Old Montreal property, Fortier-Trahan left the vehicle, approached the building and entered the restaurant area. He used an incendiary substance that caused the fire to spread rapidly.

The reported court account states that he poured the contents of two bottles around the bar and between tables and chairs before igniting the liquid. He then left the restaurant while it was burning.

Hernandez Pelaez was waiting in the vehicle. He drove away with Fortier-Trahan as the fire developed inside the building.

The two men had already left the scene when the blaze grew. The people inside, however, faced a rapidly developing emergency with potentially devastating consequences.

These details help explain why the case attracted such serious criminal charges. The guilty pleas also mean that the two men have admitted that their actions caused the deaths of the victims.

Who Were the Victims of the Old Montreal Building Fire?

Behind the court proceedings are two victims whose lives ended during what should have been a visit to Montreal.

Léonor Geraudie was 43 years old, while her daughter, Vérane Reynaud-Geraudie, was only seven. The two were French nationals visiting Canada when they stayed at the hostel inside the building.

Their deaths turned the fire into a tragedy that extended far beyond property damage or a criminal investigation. It left a family grieving the loss of two relatives and raised difficult questions about how such a disaster could happen in a building accommodating visitors.

The fact that a child was among the victims makes the case particularly painful. A seven-year-old girl and her mother were unable to escape the smoke and flames that spread through the property.

For the victims' relatives, the guilty pleas may represent an important development in the legal process. However, a criminal case reaching the sentencing stage cannot undo the loss or fully address the consequences for those left behind.

The court's next responsibility will be to determine the punishment in accordance with the law and the facts admitted by the accused.

When Will the Two Men Be Sentenced?

The two men are expected to return to court in mid-December 2026 for the next stage of the proceedings, according to CityNews Montreal.

The sentencing hearing will be important because it will determine the legal consequences of their guilty pleas. The court will have to consider the circumstances of the offence and the information presented during the sentencing process.

Although the men avoided the mandatory life sentence associated with second-degree murder, manslaughter remains a serious criminal offence under Canadian law.

Section 236 of the Criminal Code provides that manslaughter is an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment for life. The exact sentence in an individual case depends on the applicable law and the circumstances considered by the court.

It would therefore be inaccurate to assume that the guilty pleas automatically mean the men will receive short prison terms or avoid substantial punishment.

The December proceedings should provide a clearer picture of the sentences imposed and whether any additional legal issues remain to be addressed.

Why This Case Has Raised Wider Questions About Building Safety

The Old Montreal fire has also drawn attention to the safety of buildings that combine commercial businesses and short-term accommodation.

The property involved in the October 2024 incident contained a restaurant-bar at street level and a hostel on the upper floors. That arrangement meant that people staying overnight were in the same building where the fire began.

When a fire breaks out in a property used for different purposes, the speed at which smoke and flames spread can have serious consequences. Escape routes, fire alarms, emergency planning and building safety measures can all play important roles in protecting occupants.

The tragedy has therefore become part of a wider conversation about visitor accommodation and public safety in Montreal's historic district.

However, it is important to distinguish between the criminal case against the two men and separate questions about building management or regulatory responsibility. Those issues may involve different investigations, evidence and legal proceedings.

The guilty pleas in this case concern the actions of Fortier-Trahan and Hernandez Pelaez. They should not automatically be treated as a legal finding about every other person or organization connected to the property.

Is This the Same as the Deadly 2023 Old Montreal Fire?

No. The October 2024 fire that killed Léonor Geraudie and her daughter was a separate incident from the March 2023 Old Montreal building fire.

The earlier fire occurred at a heritage property in Place D'Youville and killed seven people. It was another devastating tragedy that raised questions about building safety and the use of properties for short-term accommodation.

Both properties were linked to businessman Émile Benamor, according to media reports. However, the two incidents involved separate investigations and different legal proceedings.

In March 2026, Benamor was arrested in connection with the 2023 fire and faced seven manslaughter charges, along with additional charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm. Those allegations relate to the separate 2023 incident and should not be confused with the guilty pleas entered by the two men in the 2024 case.

The distinction matters because the October 2024 guilty pleas do not resolve the legal questions surrounding the earlier fire.

What Happens Next in the Old Montreal Fire Case?

The next major development is expected when Fortier-Trahan and Hernandez Pelaez return to court in December 2026.

At that stage, attention will focus on the sentencing process and the punishment the court considers appropriate for the two men.

Several questions remain important for readers following the case:

• What sentences will the two men receive after pleading guilty to manslaughter?
• Will the court impose the same sentence on both individuals despite their different roles?
• What factors will the judge consider when determining the punishment?
• Will further legal proceedings emerge from the wider investigations connected to the building?

The answers will help clarify the final legal outcome of a case that began with a devastating fire and the deaths of two French visitors.

For now, the most important confirmed development is that both accused have admitted responsibility through guilty pleas to manslaughter. The sentencing stage will determine the consequences that follow.

Conclusion: A Major Development, but the Case Still Has One More Important Stage

The guilty pleas entered by Justin Fortier-Trahan and Juventino Hernandez Pelaez represent a significant turning point in the Old Montreal fire case. The two men had faced second-degree murder charges over the deaths of Léonor Geraudie and her seven-year-old daughter, but they admitted guilt to reduced manslaughter charges instead.

The change means they avoided the mandatory life sentence attached to a second-degree murder conviction. Nevertheless, the court still has to determine the appropriate punishment for their actions.

As the case moves toward its expected December 2026 sentencing proceedings, the focus will remain on accountability, justice for the victims and the wider questions surrounding safety in buildings used for accommodation.

What do you think the sentencing outcome should be in a case involving the deaths of two people, including a young child? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.

Related reading: Read more Canadian crime and public safety news.

Source: CityNews Montreal and Le Journal de Québec.