The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has laid additional First-Degree Murder charges in connection with the ongoing criminal investigation into deaths at the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH).
On March 25, 2021, members of the Hawkesbury OPP were called to the hospital where 89-year-old Albert Poidinger of Pointe-Claire, Québec had been pronounced deceased. A suspect was taken into custody at the time and the investigation identified several other deaths at the hospital.
On August 17, Brian Nadler, age 35 years of Dollard-Des-Ormeaux, Québec was arrested for three additional counts of First-Degree Murder, contrary to section 235(1) of the Criminal Code.
These charges stem from the deaths of:
- Claire Brière, age 80 of Rigaud, Québec
- Lorraine Lalande, age 79 or Hawkesbury
- Judith Lungulescu, age 93 of East Hawkesbury Township
Nadler, a former physician at HGH is already before the courts on the original First-Degree Murder charge, which was laid on March 26, 2021. Pre-trial proceedings for that case continue. The investigation by the Hawkesbury OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, is ongoing.
HGH is fully collaborating with the OPP investigation and legal proceedings being initiated. According to a statement issued by the hospital, its immediate concern is for the families of the deceased patients and it is committed to providing them with the appropriate care and support. All services and programs remain fully operational and HGH assures the local population that patient care is delivered in a safe, secure and quality-oriented hospital environment.
If anyone has information regarding the investigation, they are asked to call the Hawkesbury OPP at 1-888-310-1122. You may also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online at Crimestoppers.ca.
