Claude Lemieux Confronted Over Relapse Concerns Before Death

In the months leading up to his tragic death, the wife of renowned hockey player Claude Lemieux expressed concerns about his behavior. Officials have released details of an incident that occurred just hours before the athlete took his own life.

According to a report released on May 28, Lemieux's son, Brendan, told authorities that the family had noticed changes in his father's behavior over the past year. They feared he might have relapsed after 12 years of sobriety.

When Claude's wife, Deborah, confronted him on May 27 about her concerns, he admitted to relapsing. She then asked him to leave their home at 10:30 PM.

Deborah called Brendan, who came over to discuss how they could support Claude. Later that evening, Brendan checked his father's location on his phone and saw he was at the family business. He drove there and found his dad's Ford truck in the parking lot.

Brendan knew Claude kept a firearm in the glovebox, and due to the emotional nature of the situation, he removed the weapon and secured it in his own vehicle. When he entered the warehouse, he found his father and called 911 at 3:24 AM. Claude was pronounced dead minutes later.

Authorities found a cell phone near Claude's body with a written message, as well as a bag of THC edibles. However, the toxicology report showed negative results for all substances.

As previously reported, Claude Lemieux died by suicide at the age of 60. He is survived by his wife Deborah and their four children. This tragedy highlights the importance of mental health support for athletes and their families.