Ex-husband arrested for murder after missing hiker found dead with dogs: 'Fear for his life'

An Oregon woman's ex-husband was arrested and charged with murder after the missing hiker's body was found along with two dead dogs that belonged to him.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said the body of Susan Lane-Fournier, 61, was found Friday morning after she reportedly went hiking in the Mount Hood area with her two dogs.

Detectives arrested Lane-Fournier's ex-husband, Michel Fournier, 71, shortly after finding her body and booked him on second-degree murder charges.

Officials said Lane-Fournier was first reported missing on Nov. 22, after she failed to show up for work.

SEARCH FOR MISSING OREGON HIKER AND HER DOGS HANGED DUE TO “WEATHER CONDITIONS AND LIKELIHOOD OF SURVIVAL”

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said they recovered two deceased dogs on Saturday, November 30. They are believed to have belonged to the deceased woman, Susan Lane-Fournier. (Clackamas County Sheriff's Office)

A community member reported seeing Lane-Fournier's white 1992 Ford F-250 parked near East Salmon River Road and the Green Canyon Way Trail south of Welches, sparking a multi-day search by several law enforcement agencies.

Authorities also confirmed that Lane-Fournier and Michel Fournier were married at the time of her death. However, according to court documents obtained by local station KPTV, Lane-Fournier had filed for divorce just two weeks before her disappearance.

On Saturday, the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy and ruled Lane-Fournier's death a homicide.

OREGON HIKER, 61, MISSING WITH HER 2 DOGS

Detectives arrested Michel Fournier, 71, for the murder of his soon-to-be ex-wife Susan Lane-Fournier. (Clackamas County Sheriff's Office)

Her body was found near a property the couple owned in Brightwood, according to court documents.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office also recovered two deceased dogs believed to be Lane-Fournier's.

The dogs were transferred to the custody of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, where investigators were working to confirm their identities.

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A body found Friday in the Welches area has been identified as that of a 61-year-old woman who initially disappeared while hiking in the Mount Hood area, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office announced Saturday. (Clackamas County Sheriff's Office)

One of Lane-Fournier's co-workers told KPTV that before her death, she said she “feared for her life.”

“Actually, a few weeks before she disappeared, she was afraid for her life, that's why she took the dogs with her all the time,” Khalid Kamahwe told the media outlet.

Authorities initially suspended the search last week, citing “weather conditions and chances of survival.”

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Detectives are asking for information for anyone who saw Michel Fournier in the days before Susan's disappearance or has knowledge of his activities and movements since then to call the sheriff's office at 503-723-4949.