Catherine Andrus

Case record: Catherine Andrus

People

• Catherine Andrus — common-law wife of Michel Leblanc; pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 12 years.
• Michel Leblanc — common-law spouse of Catherine Andrus; found dead in their home; described in victim impact statements as 53 years old.

Background

Michel Leblanc was found murdered inside their home in Port Hope. Catherine Andrus and Michel Leblanc had lived together for 16 years. The couple experienced financial difficulties, including Andrus’s gambling problem.

During the investigation, court heard that Michel Leblanc had been under the impression that he was getting $5,000 in taxes back from the government, but he actually owed that much in taxes. Court heard that Andrus also gave the impression to friends and family that she was being treated for breast cancer.

The offence

Catherine Andrus pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the bludgeoning death of her common-law husband, Michel Leblanc. Justice Edwin Minden called it a “vicious, callous, cowardly killing” of the common-law spouse.

Court heard that Andrus “pummelled her common law spouse to death” with an aluminum baseball bat. An autopsy showed at least five blows to the head and that “any of the five blows could have killed him.” Court heard the killing may have been connected to financial motivation involving life insurance policies and a pension that would have resulted in $370,000 following Leblanc’s death.

Court heard that Andrus removed her clothing in anticipation of a bloody attack. She then:

• showered
• used paper towels to clean up
• discarded the bat and towels in a ditch

Court heard that items were staged to look like a home invasion. The Crown Attorney said the bedroom was staged to look like a home invasion with personal items, including Leblanc’s wallet missing, and that the items were later found in the van that Andrus was driving and in her locker.

The Crown Attorney read from the statement of facts that “it appeared Leblanc was asleep in bed and taken by surprise.” Court also heard that Andrus removed valuables to create the robbery scenario and that she did cleaning up with paper towels, showered, and left for a 6 a.m. shift at a Tim Hortons restaurant, disposing of the towels and the murder weapon on the way.

Michel Leblanc’s teenaged son discovered Leblanc’s body shortly after 7 a.m. after celebrating his 16th birthday the previous day and then going into the couple’s bedroom the morning after.

Investigation

Investigators arrested and charged Catherine Andrus after Michel Leblanc’s body was located in his Port Hope residence on Sept. 24, 2009.

During the investigation into the murder, an undercover officer led Andrus to a confession, and she was arrested shortly thereafter.

Police searching the family home after Leblanc’s killing found a letter from Revenue Canada informing Leblanc that he owed $5,000 in taxes.

Crown Attorney Brad Kelneck said the deception went on for months.

Arrest

Catherine Andrus was arrested nearly a year later, on Sept. 13, 2010, and confessed to the killing.

Police announced the arrest and charge on Sept. 14, 2010, stating that investigators from the Port Hope Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) under the direction of Detective Inspector Shawn Glassford of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) had arrested and charged a 50-year old Port Hope woman with first-degree murder in relation to the murder of 53-year old Michel Joseph Claude Leblanc of Port Hope. The announcement stated that Catherine Donna Mary Andrus, age 50, of Port Hope was scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg at 1:30.

Trial

Catherine Andrus initially pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder.

Justice Edwin Minden imposed sentence for second-degree murder.

During sentencing proceedings, the courtroom was described as filled with friends and relatives of both Leblanc and Andrus. Victim impact statements were read.

Victim impact statements and quoted remarks

Corrine Marmora, whose husband was best friends with the murdered man, read:

“Miche’ was our friend and like a brother to Sam,” read Corrine Marmora whose husband was best friends with the murdered man. “Sam is lost without him. His world is shattered.”
“His life was taken way too early be a senseless act of violence.”
“We will always miss our gentle giant, but know he will be waiting for us when it is our time to go.”

Brother and sister Robert and Carole Leblanc spoke of their love for their brother and how their trust in people was gone, and Robert Leblanc said:

“Mike was kind, thoughtful, loving and funny. “We thought you loved him just as much as he loved you, but we were wrong about that.”
“His most favourite thing in life was being a grandfather and you managed to take that away from him.”

They also delivered a message to Andrus. Carole Leblanc’s statement included:

“Our mother raised us to never use the word “hate” in a hateful way. I believe she would allow us to use it now because of what you have done to our family.”
“You said at his funeral that one day you and Mike will be together again. We know that this is not true because our brother is up in Heaven.”

Leblanc’s daughter, Tami O’Connor, said:

“We no longer get to build new memories.”
“Dad had a presence when he was in a room, and life has become a lot quieter since he’s been gone.”
“Your life changes in a massive way when someone you trust, love and respect betrays you with murder.”

Leblanc’s other daughter, Tina Walters, explained that Andrus meant to take him away from his children, grandchildren, family and friends, and said:

“We will never get to spend another second with my dad, my children will grow up never knowing him.”
“My dad will never get another chance at life, but the person who took his life will. Sometimes life just isn’t fair, this is one of those times!

Catherine Andrus delivered final words before being led away:

“I have no desire to put you through an ugly trial.”
To the Leblanc family she stated, “I will not be so bold to ask for your forgiveness.”
But added when she is released she will not return to either Port Hope or Cobourg.
“For everyone effected by my actions from the bottom of my heart I am so very sorry.”

Sentencing

Catherine Andrus was sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 12 years on November 27, 2012.

Court heard she had been in custody since her arrest in September 2010, making her eligible to apply for release in 2022.

The judge stated:

“This was a vicious, callous, cowardly killing,” Superior Court Justice Edwin Minden said in setting the sentence.
“The offender literally pummelled her sleeping spouse to death.”

Andrus was ordered to give a DNA sample and receive a lifetime firearms prohibition ban.

Andrus was eligible for parole on Sept. 13, 2022.

Outcome

• Catherine Andrus pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
• She received a life sentence with parole eligibility set at 12 years.
• The murder weapon (the baseball bat) was never found.

Other details

• Michel Leblanc was found dead inside their home at their address on Pochon Avenue.
• Emergency services were called shortly after 8 a.m. on Sept. 24, 2009.
• The bedroom where Leblanc’s body was found was in their home.
• Court heard that Andrus left for her 6 a.m. shift at a Tim Hortons restaurant after cleaning up and disposing of evidence.
• Court heard that from two life insurance policies, along with the pension, she would have received $370,000 following Leblanc’s death.