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Guy Turcotte

Guy Turcotte is a Canadian former cardiologist and convicted murderer from Quebec.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Guy Turcotte is a Canadian former cardiologist and convicted murderer from Quebec. He was accused of killing his two children in Piedmont, Quebec, in 2009, and was later convicted of second-degree murder after a retrial.

Background

Guy Turcotte was a doctor from Quebec who worked as a cardiologist before becoming the subject of a major criminal case. Public reporting identifies him as Canadian and born in 1972.

2009 killings

In February 2009, Turcotte’s two children were killed in Piedmont, Quebec. Reports state that both children were stabbed in their home.

Trials and appeals

Turcotte was initially found not criminally responsible in 2011. That verdict was later overturned, leading to a new trial in which he was convicted of second-degree murder in 2015.

Sentence and aftermath

After the second trial, Turcotte was sentenced to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 17 years. The case became one of the most widely reported criminal cases in Quebec.

Key facts

  • Guy Turcotte was a Quebec cardiologist before the killings.
  • His two children, Olivier and Anne-Sophie, were found stabbed to death in February 2009.
  • He was first found not criminally responsible, but that verdict was later overturned on appeal.
  • A retrial in 2015 ended with a conviction for second-degree murder.
  • He received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 17 years.
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Canadian context

This is a major Quebec criminal case that attracted national attention in Canada and influenced public discussion about criminal responsibility and mental illness in the justice system.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Guy Turcotte?
Guy Turcotte is a Canadian former cardiologist from Quebec who was convicted of killing his two children.
What happened in the Guy Turcotte case?
His children, Olivier and Anne-Sophie, were found stabbed to death in Piedmont, Quebec, in 2009.
Was Guy Turcotte convicted?
Yes. He was convicted of second-degree murder after a retrial in 2015.
What was his sentence?
He received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 17 years.
Was there an earlier verdict?
Yes. He was initially found not criminally responsible, but that decision was overturned on appeal.

References

  1. CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/guy-turcotte-trial-verdict-1.3330322
    Supports: Second-degree murder conviction after retrial; details of the children and verdict.
  2. CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/guy-turcotte-second-murder-trial-begins-1.3241363
    Supports: Initial not criminally responsible finding, appeal leading to new trial, and case background.
  3. Supreme Court of Canada — https://www.scc-csc.ca/cases-dossiers/search-recherche/35675/
    Supports: Official court record noting two counts of first-degree murder in relation to the deaths of his two children.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Turcotte_killings
    Supports: Birth date, occupation as a former cardiologist, and sentence details.