Jonathan Lehrer's father says his son 'is not a violent man at all' as the Chocolate tycoon is questioned over hitman killing of software developer Daniel Langlois and his wife who were found in burned out car in Caribbean

The father of a chocolate tycoon who is being questioned over the deaths of a millionaire software developer and his partner in the Caribbean said his son is a 'businessman, not a murderer'. 

Daniel Langlois, 66, and Dominique Marchand, both from Quebec, were found dead inside a charred vehicle near the eco-resort they owned on Dominica on Friday. 

The couple's neighbors, Jonathan Lehrer, 57, and his wife, who own and operate chocolate makers Bois Collette Inc, are being questioned by police.

Speaking to Journal de Montreal (JDM), Lehrer's father Robert dismissed the notion that his son could be responsible. 

'Jonathan is a successful businessman, not a murderer. We are very close, and he is not a violent man at all. I have a hard time believing it,' he said.

Daniel Langlois, left, and Dominique Marchand, rightfrom Quebec, were found dead inside a charred vehicle near the eco-resort they owned on Dominica

The couple's neighbors Jonathan Lehrer, seen here, and his wife, who own and operate chocolate makers Bois Collette Inc, are being questioned by police

Langlois and Marchand, who ran the Coulibri Ridge Resort, were 'ambushed' by a hitman who killed them and then set their car on fire, Dominica police said.

In a statement on national radio, Dominica's Minister of National Security Rayburn Blackmoore said: 'There are four persons of interest, three foreigners and one Dominican national, in police custody. 

'This type of terrible and brutal crime cannot be ignored and we cannot allow those responsible to get away with it.

'The government will provide investigators with everything they need to solve this crime.' 

Dominica police said the intense fire in the car made identifying the bodies impossible, and they are relying on 'circumstantial evidence to connect them to the missing couple.' 

Calgary Sun reported that the Lehrers, a foreign national and a local man have all been taken in by police in connection with the deaths. 

A spokesperson for the US Department of State told the BBC: 'We are aware of reports of the arrest of a US citizen in Dominica.

'Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment at this time.'

Langlois and Lehrer had been involved in a dispute over the usage of the Morne Rouge Public Road, which passes through the chocolatier's estate.

The battle reached the island's state highest court, which ruled in 2019 that the road was public and could be freely used by Langlois' guests.

Robert also told JDM: 'He was fed up with illegal crossings on his route, and it bothered him a lot, but it had been a while since I had any news.'

In court documents from 2019 seen by DailyMail.com, Langlois accused Lehrer of causing interference with the unobstructed and free use of the public road' for at least four years.

On one occasion Lehrer reportedly 'blocked the road by placing boulders across the road, digging a trench across the said road, erecting metal pipes and placing equipment and supplies on the road denying the claimants and their employees access to their property.'

Police in Dominica said the intense fire in the car made identifying the bodies impossible

A local report from 2018 says a protest was staged on the road after 'a land owner from Bois Cutlette' blocked it.

Dominica News Online said: 'The residents, most of whom are employees at Petite Coulibri, have been unable to pass safely to get to work, and decided to protest the action of the land owner.'

Langlois is known as the founder of Softimage, which created 3D animations software for movies such as Jurassic Park, Men in Black and Star Wars.

The entrepreneur sold the company to Microsoft in 1994 for $200 million and went on to found the Daniel Langlois Foundation for the Art, Sciences and Technology.

In October last year the couple opened a luxury, off-the-grid resort, Coulibri Ridge, on 200 acres of land on the island.

The Daniel Langlois Foundation, said in a statement on Monday that the couple 'died in tragic circumstances' on 1 December.

The statement added: 'In the coming weeks and months, details of the exact circumstances of their passing will be revealed as the Dominican police authorities and justice system proceed to the investigation.'

The foundation said Mr Langlois' 'stellar career left a profound influence on contemporary cinema'.

Langlois was beloved in Canada and Dominica, with many honoring him on social media following reports of his death.

Canada's minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge wrote: 'Daniel Langlois, a visionary in digital technologies and cinema, has left us. His legacy reflects his innovative spirit. My thoughts are with his loved ones.'

The Quebec natives were dedicated to their sustainable project in Dominica

Langlois and Lehrer had been involved in a dispute over the usage of the Morne Rouge Public Road, which passes through the chocolatier's estate

In October 2022 the couple opened a luxury, off-the-grid resort, Coulibri Ridge, on 200 acres of land on the island

Langlois and Marchand played an important role in the community, according to Soufriere village politician Denise Charles-Pemberton, who told a state-owned radio channel: ‘These last few days have been incredibly heavy for our constituency.

‘To lose two members of our community, who have been at the heart of its development and its sense of spirit and togetherness is something that we have struggled to put into words.

‘Daniel and Dominique may be known for their world-renowned eco-resort in the village but to the people of the Soufriere constituency and to me, they were kind, loving and truly community oriented.'

On November 3, the government of Dominica gave Langlois a 'Meritorious Service Award for his contributions to sustainable development and research projects,' as reported by Dominica News Online.

DailyMail.com has approached police in Dominica for further comment on the case.