One year ago, a tragic crime shook the Mason community.
Investigators say Michel Veillette stabbed his wife, then set fire to the couple's home, killing their four children – all because he wanted to start a new life with his girlfriend in Canada.
A year later, two people who know the intimate details of the case reflected on what happened with Michel Veillette and his family.
"It seems like just yesterday," said Rachel Hutzel, Warren County prosecutor. "I remember being home January 11 last year and getting that call and being on the phone the rest of the day to find out what was happening with the investigation, what was going on with the children."
"It was a horrific day and I will never forget it," added Hutzel.
Many who have seen the pictures of the Veillette children wonder how a father could do it.
The Warren County prosecutor saw their autopsy photos and is certain he did intend to kill them.
"I'll grant him that he may have snapped when he stabbed his wife," said Hutzel. "They clearly had a fight over the stripper and over money. I don't thing there's any question about that, but clearly he thought about what he was doing to the children."
"He went downstairs across the kitchen, across the garage, got a gas can, came back into the kitchen and got a lighter and went upstairs and poured gas down the hallway in front of their bedrooms and then jumped out the window," said Hutzel.
Investigators say Veillette wanted to start a new life with his "stripper" girlfriend in Canada, for whom he had drained his family's finances to support.
"There was never any psych evaluation done on Michel Veillette," said Hutzel. "It's hard to understand what was going through his mind."
But Mason Police Detective Jerry Deidesheimer does not believe Veillette really planned what ultimately happened.
"From what we know of Michel Veillette, being an electrical engineer, was very methodic and calculated as far as how he went about his business," said Deidesheimer.
"So, this was certainly out of character for him," said Deidesheimer. "I don't think there was a lot of premeditation behind this, because the crime scene was what it was. It was very disorganized and didn't allow for any exit. He had to exit thru the window."
Veillette killed himself in his Warren County jail cell while awaiting trial.
The Veillette home on Brackenview Court goes up for sale at the sheriff's auction at the end of this month.
